I believe I am just a little over due for a second training camp report. In spite of injuries, good things continue to happen. QB Aaron Rodgers gave the best summary. On offense he thinks the Packers will be explosive while getting the offense to gel more as a unit. On defense he said that he has been surprised at how calm and confident they are playing and how surprised he has been at times with what the defense throws at him. Injuries have come and gone in waves. The first group I reported has been replaced by the second. However, yesterday only three players sat out with an injury. So there is some encouragement.

Offense: At quarterback, QB Aaron Rodgers moved the team in the second preseason game against Pittsburg and threw a touchdown pass like he was in mid season form. So he is back and looks very good. QB Brett Hundley and QB DeShone Kizer seem to be doing equally well so far. There is now talk of keeping both. If that happens, QB Tim Boyle is the odd man out. He throws a nice ball accurately and has a strong arm. Maybe he ends up on the practice squad. At running back, there are issues. RB Aaron Jones is not only facing a two game suspension but he is nursing an injury as well. RB Jamaal Williams is also nursing a injured ankle. RB Devante Mays has a hamstring injury. Oddly enough RB Ty Montgomery is the healthy one right now. RB Joel Bouagnon is healthy too and has been getting time in preseason games. Just to have position players the Packers have signed RB LeShun Daniels and RB Bronson Hill. If I had to guess at a good fantasy option it might be Montgomery – in spite of his injury issues. At tight end, TE Jimmy Graham and TE Mercedes Lewis look to be the real deal. I expect to see both on the field at the same time this year. It should not be a surprise that Graham gets most of the passes coming his way, but Lewis has demonstrated he can catch passes as well as block. If anything happens to Graham, I would like to have Lewis on my fantasy team. After those two I would say the third position is between; TE Lance Kendricks, TE Emmanuel Byrd, or TE Robert Tonyan. If more than three are kept the 4^th one won’t see the field if past history is any indication. At wide receiver, it appears the pecking order is as follows; WR Davante Adams, WR Randall Cobb, WR Geronimo Allison, WR Jake Kumerow, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR Equanimeous St. Brown, and WR J’mon Moore. It is clear Rodgers likes Allison. Kumerow appears to have made the team, but for health reasons will have to curb his unnecessary dives into the end zone. Scantling has gone to the top of the three rookie receivers with his excellent preseason games. St, Brown is the next most productive and Moore gets separation but has trouble catching the ball. WR Trevor Davis, WR DeAngelo Yancey, WR Adonis Jennings, and WR Kyle Lewis will be gone. The starting offensive line will include (from left to right) OT David Bakhtari, OG Lane Taylor, OC Corey Linsley, OG Justin McCray, and OT Bryan Bulaga – it just won’t be during preseason. Bakhtari, Taylor, and McCray are injured now. Bulaga is just off the PUP list. OT Jason Spriggs, OT Kyle, OC Dillion Day, OG Lucas Patrick, OT Adam Pankey, and veteran OG Byron Bell continue to be the main players battling for backup positions. With this offense there is the possibility that the ball will be spread around a lot. But there are a few worth a fantasy draft pick.

Defense: So far the defense continues to make noise in camp and in preseason games. There were two pick-sixes against the Steelers - one by CB Tramon Williams and one by rookie CB Josh Jackson. But the defense had problems stopping the Steelers rushing attack. That is something the veterans are not worried about. So we will see when it is for real. On the defensive line, the following have a roster spot (barring injury); DE Dean Lowry, DE Kenny Clark, DE Mike Daniels, NT Muhammad Wilkerson, and DT Montravius Adams. If the Packers keep six, DE James Looney is probably retained. Maybe DE Conor Sheehy is practice squad material. I don’t see DL Tyler Lancaster or DL Joey Mbu sticking. At inside linebacker, LB Owen Burks flashed big time against the Steelers. LB Blake Martinez is doing well as expected and is now the line backer the Packers can least afford to lose. LB Ahmad Thomas played well enough in preseason games so far. Burks and Thomas are former college safeties and both have shown coverage skills. LB CJ Johnson has been injured. At outside linebacker LB Clay Matthews and LB Nick Perry are the starters. Perry continues to be on track for the start of the season. So who will be the backups? Those showing more so far include; LB Reggie Gilbert, LB Kendall Donnerson, and LB Greer Martini. Those showing less include; LB Vice Biegle and LB Kyler Fackrell. Fackrell has not lived up to training camp start in pre season games. At cornerback it appears that CB Kevin King and CB Jaire Alexander are going to have to be healthy for the pass defense to work at its best. CB Tramon Williams may start opposite King with either Alexander or CB Josh Jackson in the slot corner position. It is also conceivable that Jackson plays some safety as could CB Quinten Rollins or LB Ahmad Thomas. CB Lenzy Pickens and CB Davon House could also stick. CB Donatello Brown, CB Herb Waters, CB Demetri Goodson, and CB Josh Hawkins continue to get beat on a regular basis. Waters, Goodson, and Hawkins all played a part in the 38 points the Steelers put up – it doesn’t look good for them. At safety S Kentrell Brice is back. Given the other options for safety on the roster, it is possible that only S Josh Jones and S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix are kept. S Jermaine Whitehead, S Raven Greene, and S Marwin Evans have been invisible so far in preseason games. 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, K Mason Crosby and perhaps the Packer defense. As of now, if injuries to preferred starters happen, I would label QB DeShone Kizer, TE Mercedes Lewis, WR Geronimo Allison, and WR Jake Kumerow as second tier players. Right now the only healthy running back is RB Ty Montgomery – so I would take him – if you need a Packer at the position. Stay on top of the injury news – the only bad pick is a injured (and out for the season) pick. Otherwise have fun at your draft. I will return prior to week one with some thoughts on the Packer week one matchup vs. the Bears.

End.