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The Green Bay Packers opened up training camp in 2026 with back-to-back-to-back practices, providing a ramp up period before Matt LaFleur's team puts on the pads and starts playing real football come next week. And Family Night and the preseason opener are just around the corner.
July practices without pads can only tell us so much. So what are the big things to know? First, who is and isn't practicing. You want a healthy, functioning football team this time of year. Second, who is getting the early first-team reps? These are the players most likely to impact the 2026 Packers. And who is standing out early? These are the possible camp surprises.
What we've learned after three practices:
TE Tucker Kraft: He came off the PUP list on Friday and can now start ramping up towards becoming a full-time player before Week 1. Kraft, who missed only two practices, now has over 40 days to prep for the regular season. This might be the biggest and most important thing coming out of the first three days -- the Packers are likely to have Kraft at full power to start the season.
DL Devonte Wyatt/OT Zach Tom: The Packers are easing both players back into action after last season's injuries. Matt LaFleur said they might return to 11-on-11 periods by next week. If nothing else, there appears to be no reason to think either player won't be 100 percent come Week 1.
G Aaron Banks: The caveat here is that Banks started camp on the PUP and then took an injury management day on Thursday. His knee injury is one to monitor moving forward.
Edge rusher Micah Parsons: As expected, he is likely to miss all of training camp and the start of the regular season.
DL Javon Hargrave: The veteran missed the first three days with a knee injury. The Packers don't think it's a long-term issue, but any kind of injury for a 33-year-old is unfortunate, especially at a position lacking depth.
RB Chris Brooks: He missed the first three practices with a hamstring injury. Will his absence early in camp open up an opportunity to MarShawn Lloyd to take over a big role?
TE Luke Musgrave: The Packers are waiting for clarity on his neck injury, and Matt LaFleur said he wasn't expecting a short-term resolution. Unless it clears, the Packers will likely need to add at tight end before Week 1.
LS Matt Orzech: The Packers had to add a long snapper to the roster (Cal Adomitis) because Orzech has missed the first three practices with a calf injury. Is a real competition coming once Orzech is healthy?
CB Kamal Hadden: Coach Matt LaFleur said he's getting closer to a return from the PUP list after suffering a significant ankle injury to end last year. He needs to get back soon to re-insert himself into a competitive position group.
OT Brant Banks: His hamstring injury has cost him three days of practice, a setback for a player capable of competing for a backup job at offensive tackle.
With Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave both sidelined, the Packers have used Josh Whyle and Drake Dabney as the top tight ends. While Kraft will eventually play most of the snaps at tight end, Musgrave's status has opened the door to both a role behind Kraft and a roster spot at tight end. Along the offensive line, the absences of Aaron Banks and Zach Tom have allowed Jacob Monk and Darian Kinnard to get first-team reps, suggesting they are top backups -- although rookie Jager Burton has missed time with a hamstring injury. Elsewhere along the offensive line, Jordan Morgan is the preferred left tackle, Sean Rhyan is the preferred center and Anthony Belton is the preferred right guard. The Packers feel they are finally playing their best position. As expected at receiver, Jayden Reed is the slot and Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are the top perimeter receivers.
On defense, Brandon Cisse got some early run with the first team while Keisean Nixon recovered from hamstring tightness on Day 1, but Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Javon Bullard have been the starting corners otherwise. The defensive front has used a lot of players inside with Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave both out, but Barryn Sorrell appears to be the front runner as the edge rusher opposite Lukas Van Ness. Cisse and Benjamin St-Juste have received first-team snaps. As expected, Zaire Franklin and Edgerrin Cooper are the starting linebackers and Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams are the starting safeties. The biggest battles are at defensive tackle, No. 2 corner and No. 2 edge rusher.
There hasn't been real football quite yet, but here are a few players who had made plays early on:
WR Matthew Golden: The second-year receiver makes a handful of explosive plays every day.
DB Johnathan Baldwin: The second-year defensive back looks like the top backup behind Javon Bullard in the slot, and he's made a few highlight plays during the first three days, including a pick of Tyrod Taylor on Thursday.
WR J. Michael Sturdivant: The Packers' top UDFA looks the part so far, although he's had a few drops. Expect him to catch a lot of passes with the No. 2 offense this summer.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: What have we learned from first 3 days of Packers training camp?
Continue reading...
July practices without pads can only tell us so much. So what are the big things to know? First, who is and isn't practicing. You want a healthy, functioning football team this time of year. Second, who is getting the early first-team reps? These are the players most likely to impact the 2026 Packers. And who is standing out early? These are the possible camp surprises.
What we've learned after three practices:
Who is practicing?
TE Tucker Kraft: He came off the PUP list on Friday and can now start ramping up towards becoming a full-time player before Week 1. Kraft, who missed only two practices, now has over 40 days to prep for the regular season. This might be the biggest and most important thing coming out of the first three days -- the Packers are likely to have Kraft at full power to start the season.
DL Devonte Wyatt/OT Zach Tom: The Packers are easing both players back into action after last season's injuries. Matt LaFleur said they might return to 11-on-11 periods by next week. If nothing else, there appears to be no reason to think either player won't be 100 percent come Week 1.
G Aaron Banks: The caveat here is that Banks started camp on the PUP and then took an injury management day on Thursday. His knee injury is one to monitor moving forward.
Who isn't practicing?
Edge rusher Micah Parsons: As expected, he is likely to miss all of training camp and the start of the regular season.
DL Javon Hargrave: The veteran missed the first three days with a knee injury. The Packers don't think it's a long-term issue, but any kind of injury for a 33-year-old is unfortunate, especially at a position lacking depth.
RB Chris Brooks: He missed the first three practices with a hamstring injury. Will his absence early in camp open up an opportunity to MarShawn Lloyd to take over a big role?
TE Luke Musgrave: The Packers are waiting for clarity on his neck injury, and Matt LaFleur said he wasn't expecting a short-term resolution. Unless it clears, the Packers will likely need to add at tight end before Week 1.
LS Matt Orzech: The Packers had to add a long snapper to the roster (Cal Adomitis) because Orzech has missed the first three practices with a calf injury. Is a real competition coming once Orzech is healthy?
CB Kamal Hadden: Coach Matt LaFleur said he's getting closer to a return from the PUP list after suffering a significant ankle injury to end last year. He needs to get back soon to re-insert himself into a competitive position group.
OT Brant Banks: His hamstring injury has cost him three days of practice, a setback for a player capable of competing for a backup job at offensive tackle.
Who is running with the first team?
With Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave both sidelined, the Packers have used Josh Whyle and Drake Dabney as the top tight ends. While Kraft will eventually play most of the snaps at tight end, Musgrave's status has opened the door to both a role behind Kraft and a roster spot at tight end. Along the offensive line, the absences of Aaron Banks and Zach Tom have allowed Jacob Monk and Darian Kinnard to get first-team reps, suggesting they are top backups -- although rookie Jager Burton has missed time with a hamstring injury. Elsewhere along the offensive line, Jordan Morgan is the preferred left tackle, Sean Rhyan is the preferred center and Anthony Belton is the preferred right guard. The Packers feel they are finally playing their best position. As expected at receiver, Jayden Reed is the slot and Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are the top perimeter receivers.
On defense, Brandon Cisse got some early run with the first team while Keisean Nixon recovered from hamstring tightness on Day 1, but Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Javon Bullard have been the starting corners otherwise. The defensive front has used a lot of players inside with Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave both out, but Barryn Sorrell appears to be the front runner as the edge rusher opposite Lukas Van Ness. Cisse and Benjamin St-Juste have received first-team snaps. As expected, Zaire Franklin and Edgerrin Cooper are the starting linebackers and Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams are the starting safeties. The biggest battles are at defensive tackle, No. 2 corner and No. 2 edge rusher.
Some early notable standouts
There hasn't been real football quite yet, but here are a few players who had made plays early on:
WR Matthew Golden: The second-year receiver makes a handful of explosive plays every day.
DB Johnathan Baldwin: The second-year defensive back looks like the top backup behind Javon Bullard in the slot, and he's made a few highlight plays during the first three days, including a pick of Tyrod Taylor on Thursday.
WR J. Michael Sturdivant: The Packers' top UDFA looks the part so far, although he's had a few drops. Expect him to catch a lot of passes with the No. 2 offense this summer.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: What have we learned from first 3 days of Packers training camp?
Continue reading...
