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The Green Bay Packers open training camp 2022 on Wednesday with a training session. Refresh this page for updates from Ray Nitschke Field.
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Robert Tonyan, Kylin Hill and Elgton Jenkins worked with rehab instead of team training on Wednesday
The Packers had a litany of people working with the rehab group on Wednesday. Tight end Robert Tonyan, running back Kylin Hill, wide receiver Malik Taylor, linebacker Randy Ramsey and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins all participated in the rehab work. Wide receiver Christian Watson was not seen during the rehab session but did join his teammates on the field during receiver practice.
Malik Taylor was not on an injured list at the time of publication and his status is unknown.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari was not seen at any point during practice. During the OTAs, Bakhtiari would often train with the O line, just in street clothes.
Jaire Alexander returns to training after spending much of 2021 on the injury list
In the first practice, the defensive back began to take shape. With an embarrassment of wealth on the corner, the Packers fielded Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes on the outside with the first team, without a slot corner. Rasul Douglas lined up on the outside with the second defense team.
As the first-team defense retook the field, Stokes and Alexander maintained their positions on the outside, with Douglas starting as a slot corner.
With Alexander injured (shoulder) in 13 games in the 2021 season, Stokes and Douglas were the outside corners. When Alexander returned for the Divisional Playoff games against the San Francisco 49ers, that lineup remained unchanged, with Alexander in the slot.
Defensive coordinator Joe Berry switched all three guys during the OTAs.
– Cassidy Hill
More:The return of Jaire Alexander leaves Packers in search of the perfect slot
Yosh Nijman sees action as a left tackle with David Bakhtiari
With David Bakhtiari on PUP, Yosh Nijman lined up at left tackle with the No. 1 unit on day one of Green Bay Packers training camp.
The move was not surprising; Nijman lined up much of the off-season there. But it’s important because he’s not getting work in proper tackle, where he’ll be fighting for a job if or when Bakhtiari comes back.
The starting offensive looked like this from left to right: Nijman, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Jake Hanson and Royce Newman.
Newman was right starting guard for most of last season and Hanson was on the practice team for much of the year so right flank was a bit of a surprise.
On the second team, rookie Zach Tom was left tackle, Michael Menet left guard, Hanson center, rookie Sean Rhyan right guard, and Cole Van Lanen right tackle.
Matt LaFleur arrives excited for the start of his fourth season
Head coach Matt LaFleur started his fourth season with the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday and came excited and energized for the first day of training camp.
Reality will come quickly, however, as LaFleur begins practice without his All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari. Earlier in the day, general manager Brian Gutekunst revealed that Bakhtiari suffered a setback in his ACL recovery during the regular season finale against the Detroit Lions, calling it a “significant injury.”
LaFleur joked that he no longer watches schedules but is now tasked with working around Bakhtiari’s continued absence and is unsure of when he will return.
“I know we’ve talked about it quite a bit. I can tell you I’m not a doctor and that’s not my specialty. As soon as they free him, from what I’ve seen, he’ll be ready to go. I know Dave is doing everything he can,” LaFleur said.
It was announced over the weekend that LaFleur and Gutekunst had both received contract extensions with the Packers.
The Packers will welcome the public to open training camp drills on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday this week at 10:30 a.m.
— Cassidy Hill
Matt LaFleur says Aaron Rodgers looks good
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked like he was in good shape after skipping nearly all offseason practice.
LaFleur said he saw the clip of Rodgers wearing his tank top walking across the parking lot into the facility, which was shared widely on social media. He joked that he looked like Nicolas Cage, but couldn’t remember Cage’s name and asked his PR chief Jason Wahlers to remind him who it was. “I’m not a big movie guy,” he said.
LaFleur said Rodgers “did well on the walk test” the Packers do early in camp to see what shape the players are in and if they might have any complaints.
When asked if he thinks he needs to be more careful with Rodgers early in training camp after the quarterback missed all organized team activities, LaFleur said he would handle things similarly to previous years. He said they generally have a plan for Rodgers and the number of pitches he’ll be making when they start camp.
LaFleur said it’s crucial for Rodgers to coordinate with his receivers, who have been catching passes from backups Jordan Love and Danny Etling throughout the offseason. The Packers start training today in shorts and helmets.
– Tom Silverstein
David Bakhtiari had a third operation on his knee, says Brian Gutekunst
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said during his season-opening press conference on Wednesday that left tackle David Bakhtiari had another procedure on his ailing knee, but the club are confident he will be back on the field this season becomes.
Bakhtiari, who tore his ACL in December 2020, missed all but a few snaps last year due to complications with his knee. He had a second engagement in the mid-’20s season, attempted to come back for the playoffs and was shut down after the final game of the regular season.
Gutekunst would not say when Bakhtiari had the third procedure, but the veteran is starting training camp on the Physically Unfit Person (PUP) list, meaning he failed his physical and will not train until he does . If Bakhtiari stays in the PUP for the entire camp, there’s a chance he’ll stay there for the start of the regular season. He would have to miss at least six games if he’s still on PUP.
Gutekunst said Bakhtiari “worked his tail off” to come back, but would not set a timetable for when he could train. Bakhtiari missed all off-season training sessions.
With Bakhtiari still out, it’s likely Yosh Nijman will start with the left tackle. Nijman is also an option with the right tackle. How the club is positioned on the offensive line will be clear as soon as training begins.
Gutekunst also said defensive lineman Dean Lowry and running back Patrick Taylor will be removed from PUP and will practice today. Additionally, he said wide receiver Sammy Watkins’ stint at PUP will be a very short-term thing. I think you’ll see him out there very soon.”
– Tom Silverstein
Adding an experienced wide receiver anytime soon is unlikely, Gutekunst says
The GrPackers are unlikely to be adding an experienced wide receiver any time soon, general manager Brian Gutekunst said during his season-opening press conference.
The Packers reportedly showed some interest in former Atlanta and most recently Tennessee wide receiver Julio Jones, who signed with Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The Packers had veteran John Brown for a practice this season, but they didn’t sign him, probably just checking what form he was in when they fell short on the position.
The Packers have 11 recipients on the list and Gutekunst said he really likes the group.
He said the market isn’t very good right now and it’s more likely the Packers would address the position at the end of training camp if they felt a veteran was necessary.
The Packers will be without second-round pick Christian Watson (PUP) and veteran Sammy Watkins (NFI) at the start of training camp. He said he doesn’t think either injury is long-term.
– Tom Silverstein
