Highlights from Practice 2 of Packers OTAs
Here’s Jordan Love’s day, the play of the day, the player of the day, injury updates and more from Green Bay Packers OTAs on Tuesday.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – On the second day of Green Bay Packers organized team activities, Jordan Love’s best pass of the day was a drop.
With A.J. Dillon matched one-on-one against outside linebacker Justin Hollins on a wheel route, Love threw a perfect pass that Dillon let slip through his hands. Perhaps Dillon was thinking ahead to having to secure the football before stepping out of bounds.
In total, it was a hot-and-cold day for Love. Rather, it was a cold-and-hot day. He went 1-of-4 on his first series of plays, then 2-of-5 in a third-down drill in the red zone that failed to gain a first down or find the end zone.
He fell to 3-of-12 following a 0-for-3 series that included drops by Aaron Jones and Dillon.
Love got going late in practice, though. During a second red zone period, Love connected with Christian Watson for a touchdown against Keisean Nixon – Watson went to the flat before turning his route inside and made the catch in the back of the end zone – as well as scores to Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure.
Jordan Love has some fun at Green Bay Packers OTAs on Tuesday. (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)
The touchdown to Doubs came on a pass from the 10, with Doubs catching the ball at the 4 and making a nice move to get into the end zone. The touchdown to Toure came on the final play of the day, with Toure catching a pass from the 4 at the goal line.
Love finished 6-of-16 against a defense that lined up without starting cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas.
“I think that’s always fun scoring touchdowns. I’d rather that than incomplete passes,” Love said of finishing strong. “I think it was great. Obviously, the first red-zone period we had wasn’t as great. I think for us to be able to finish like that was a huge step for us today.”
Play of the Day
During the starters vs. starters red-zone period, Love fired a pass over the middle to tight end Luke Musgrave. Veteran linebacker De’Vondre Campbell came out of nowhere – well, he came from the defense’s right side – darned in front of the pass and almost made the interception.
The Packers certainly could use a rebound season from Campbell, an All-Pro in 2021. Moreover, it’s plays like that by a savvy, veteran defender that will make Love better in the long run.
Player of the Day
Lukas Van Ness at Green Bay Packers OTAs on Tuesday. (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)
Yes, these are noncontact practices. And, yes, it must be noted that he was going up against the No. 2 offensive line. But first-round pick Lukas Van Ness was really impressive in his first appearance in front of reporters.
At one point, Van Ness drove the left tackle into the lap of the quarterback. At another point, he wasn’t fooled at all on a bootleg and was right in Danny Etling’s face. On a running play, the 6-foot-5 Van Ness ducked underneath the blocker and blew up a handoff.
Van Ness aligned at outside linebacker and on the defensive line. Wherever he lined up, his explosiveness was on display.
“I think he’s done a nice job and, certainly, you can see the skill-set that he possesses,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “He’s a big, strong, fast guy. He’s a worker. That’s all you can ask for, and we’re going to keep putting more on his plate and see what he can handle and see how he adapts and learns the speed and the techniques you’ve got to use at this level.”
Taking Attendance
Seven players weren’t on the field for the voluntary practice: Safety Dallin Leavitt, cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas, outside linebackers Preston Smith and Jonathan Garvin, and offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins.
It’s worth pointing out that Bakhtiari, who has made some waves this offseason – including ripping the team’s schedule video – has been a participant in the offseason program. So have Leavitt, Jenkins and Smith.
Cornerback Eric Stokes and outside linebacker Rashan Gary – two stalwarts on defense – went through rehab workouts. Gary, coming off a torn ACL, jogged forward and then picked up speed with every step. Stokes did some backpedaling before accelerating forward.
Both players suffered season-ending injuries in the midseason loss at Detroit. Stokes said he had surgery on his knee (meniscus) and foot (Lisfranc). The foot injury was by far the most serious. Having started running a few weeks ago, he’s hoping he’ll be ready for training camp, which will start in about two months.
“Just getting back and getting out of my own head, to be honest, that's the biggest thing for me,” he said. “And everything else is going to come. Just me trusting every little thing. I know that it's going to be awkward from the start, especially now, just doing like running and starting back running, doing all the little stuff, it feel weird, but hey, it'll take time.”
Seventh-round receiver Grant DuBose, who didn’t participate in the rookie camp, didn’t practice. Neither did seventh-round running back Lew Nichols III. Their absences probably are why the team signed a running back and receiver the past couple days.
For Starters
Without David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, the No. 1 line was left tackle Yosh Nijman, left guard Royce Newman, center Josh Myers, right guard Jon Runyan and right tackle Zach Tom.
Without Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, the outside linebackers were Kingsley Enagbare and Justin Collins. Without Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas, the cornerbacks were Corey Ballentine and Kiondre Thomas. As promised, Keisean Nixon manned the slot. Darnell Savage and Rudy Ford took the No. 1 reps at safety.
Starting linebacker Quay Walker dropped out early. Isaiah McDuffie replaced him alongside De’Vondre Campbell. Walker stayed on the field, though, and watched the plays unfold from about 45 yards behind the defense.
Extra Points
- Keisean Nixon blitzed off the slot and batted down a pass by Jordan Love.
- Rookie receiver Jayden Reed fumbled.
- Fellow rookie receiver Dontayvion Wicks had a strong day. He got himself open for a touchdown pass from Danny Etling.
- After a touchdown run by AJ Dillon, coach Matt LaFleur gathered the No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense. His message?
“Just making sure that we stay up off the ground. That’s a big part of this time of the year is you want to get great, competitive work, but you want to keep everybody safe. So, I think, we’ve got a lot of young guys out there right now and everybody’s got to learn how to practice together and try to get the most out of it but, yet, maintain player safety. You're sick any time you see somebody go down, but especially at this time of the year.”
Packers Schedule
The team will return to the practice field on Thursday. Practice 3 of OTAs will be a review of what was installed on Monday and Tuesday.
After the Memorial Day weekend, the Packers will practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of next week. The Wednesday practice will be open to reporters. The team is not opening OTAs to the fans.
Quote of the Day
All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon on revamped kickoff rules that allow for a fair catch on any kickoff: “I don’t know what a fair catch is.”
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Source: Sports Illustrated
