Training camp is in progress – that is the good news. Also among the good news is all the communication between experienced players and lesser experienced players and between coaches and players in general. If you listen to interviews and read reports that is a detail that at least for me jumped out. Without going into a lot of detail, I think it will help if, for instance, the wide receiver corps is more than 2 deep – and 3 others are ready to go. The Packers are poised to do well IF injuries are held to a minimum. Already this off season two undrafted free agents from this year and one from last year decided to retire. Those would be respectively, DL Filipo Mokofisi, LB Paris Bennett, and WR Michael Clark. In addition, OG Cole Madison did not report but is expected back at some point. LB Nick Perry started training camp on the PUP list – he should be ready for the regular season. Jake Ryan is out for the year with a torn ACL. He will likely go on IR at some point. Finally, S Kentrell Brice, LB CJ Johnson, DE Mike Daniels, RB Aaron Jones, and FB Joe Kerridge are nursing injuries. That is most of the bad news.

Offense: At quarterback, QB Aaron Rodgers already has 7 interceptions early during training camp. But I think he is getting Pettine’s defense figure out. QB Brett Hundley and QB DeShone Kizer are getting positive mentions in articles. It seems like every day Kizer is the one with a great play – and none of them are to his former target at Notre Dame – St. Brown. Keep in mind that both QB Case Keenum and QB Nick Foles both had significant NFL playing time before there success of last year. So maybe the same will help Hundley and Kizer. QB Tim Boyle has done well when he is mentioned as well. It is clear that Rodgers is healthy. Also, Rodgers is getting more reps with all the receivers. It is paying dividends so far. At running back, the committee approach will have some issues starting out. The main one is that RB Aaron Jones is facing a two game suspension. While RB Ty Montgomery could start there is talk about the growth of RB Jamaal Williams and how complete of a player he is. So maybe he gets starts. While we are waiting for the answer to that there is mention that RB Devante Mays is making progress, but there is no mention of RB Joel Bouagnon yet. At tight end, TE Jimmy Graham and Rodgers are getting on the same page making regular connections in practice. TE Mercedes Lewis is busy demonstrating his blocking ability that comes as advertized. But he is also receiving some passes from Rodgers. Rodgers specifically mentioned how Lewis will apart of things and they also need to get a comfort level with each other ASAP. TE Lance Kendricks caught at least one pass. Without details, one report praised TE Emmanuel Byrd for how well he is doing. TE Kevin Radar caught a pass one-handed, but otherwise news on Radar and TE Ryan Smith have been hard to come by. At wide receiver, WR Davante Adams and WR Randall Cobb are doing what they should be doing – catching passes. Both appear healthy. Of the three draft picks, WR J’mon Moore is showing he can play and WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is demonstrating his speed and catching ability in spurts. One of the camp surprises is WR Jake Kumerow who is making catches and showing he can get separation. This is his 4^th NFL training camp - maybe now he knows what to expect and the cumulative teaching he received in the past are now showing up. WR Geronimo Allison shows up in the news once and a while and Rodgers says "he (Allison) will make some big plays for us this year". So he isn’t going anywhere. WR Trevor Davis had one good day so far, but otherwise nothing. The only mention of WR DeAngelo Yancey I can find is that he dropped a pass – that won’t get anyone a spot on the Packer roster. Not much is heard from WR Equanimeous St. Brown. On the offensive line OG Justin McCray has all but wrapped up the right guard position. In OT Bryan Bulaga’s absence OT Jason Spriggs and OT Kyle Murphy have been taking snaps. However, Bulaga has been cleared to start practicing and is off the PUP list – nine months after he tore his ACL. So now the starters are set. Only the backups need to be determined. Besides Spriggs and Murphy, serious contenders include OC Dillion Day, OG Lucas Patrick, OT Adam Pankey, and veteran OG Byron Bell.

Defense: So far the defense is making noise in camp. This isn’t Capers defense. The players say they are having fun. So if that is true, the players are not thinking as much and instead are free to react. On the defensive line, there is no change from last month. The veterans include; DE Dean Lowry, DE Kenny Clark, DE Mike Daniels, and NT Muhammad Wilkerson. DT Montravius Adams is doing very well and winning his one on ones. Not much is heard from; DL Tyler Lancaster, DE Conor Sheehy, DL Joey Mbu, or DE James Looney so far. At inside linebacker, LB Jake Ryan is out for the season. LB Blake Martinez is doing well while LB Owen Burks waits for a chance. LB Ahmad Thomas is now playing in Ryan’s place. Thomas was a college safety who is trying to stick as a line backer. He shows very good coverage skills. It remains to be determined how permanent that is. Ryan was very good against the run. LB CJ Johnson and LB Marcus Porter are also in play – although Johnson is hurt. There are other linebacker prospects who may be given a chance to fill the vacancy, and some scheme changes may occur to help ease the pain. At outside linebacker LB Clay Matthews and LB Nick Perry are the starters. Perry will be back for start of the season. So who will be the backups? LB Vice Biegle and LB Reggie Gilbert are expected to be there. But LB Greer Martini is showing well so far. Part of the good news is that LB Kyler Fackrell won his first one on one in his first attempt – and they are saying he isn’t the same person as last year – in a good way. He was 1-30 over the last two training camps. If he wins a few more of those it will show how much he has improved – which is a surprise. LB Naashon Hughes is one that comes up as making a play and showing ability that may get a look inside. I haven’t heard much about LB Kendall Donnerson. At cornerback CB Kevin King and CB Jaire Alexander are doing great for a first week. They are two of the reasons Rodgers found the going tough at the start of training camp. CB Josh Jackson has more work to do, but he is making progress – he probably doesn’t start right away. He only had one college year at corner back experience, but his coaches are saying he is progressing. CB Tramon Williams is also playing well enough. CB Lenzy Pickens got a mention by Rodgers about how well he is doing. So there are some options at the position. When I have hear about CB Donatello Brown, CB Herb Waters, CB Demetri Goodson, or CB Josh Hawkins they are getting beat on a regular basis. I haven’t heard much about CB Davon House. CB Quinten Rollins could end up in a new position. He is playing the position abandoned by Morgan Burnett, in part, because he isn’t afraid to tackle. He would be acting more like a safety playing close to the line of scrimmage. They are looking at other spot positions for him as well. At safety S Kentrell Brice is injured for now. Once the swelling goes down the doctors will be able to determine the extent of his injury. It looks like he is the preferred starter – but he has had problems staying healthy in past years too. S Josh Jones will step in as a starter opposite S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Jones had a tough first day on the job. That doesn’t mean he can’t play – just means he has some learning to do. S Jermaine Whitehead also has had reps in the Morgan Burnette position. I haven’t heard much about S Raven Greene or S Marwin Evans. Things are looking up for this defense. May be a good fantasy pick late in your draft.

If I were a fantasy owner drafting today the following players would be of interest; QB Aaron Rodgers, TE Jimmy Graham, WR Davante Adams, WR Randall Cobb, PK Mason Crosby and perhaps the Packer defense. As of now, if injuries to preferred starters happen, I would label QB DeShone Kizer, WR Geronimo Allison, and WR Jake Kumerow as second tier players. I haven’t decided on a running back yet. Between the committee approach, the injuries, suspension, and who makes progress, it is still up in the air. I will have to see how the preseason games go before determining that. More should be revealed as training camp progresses. I will be back in a couple weeks with an update. Meanwhile, pray for no more injuries.

End.