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There’s nothing normal about this Packers training camp

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Rookie AJ Dillon’s locker

The Green Bay Packers opened training camp last week, but the first several days were devoted to coronavirus testing.  Rookies were in over the weekend and held their first walk through.  The teams veterans finally arrive today (Monday), the sixth day of training camp.

With veterans arriving, there’s another walk through scheduled for today, along with weight lifting and conditioning.  It’ll be two weeks before the team gets its first padded practice.

There’ll be no preseason games ahead of the September 13th opener at Minnesota, which means coach Matt LaFleur will have to get creative in the way he prepares his team.

LaFleur told reporters in a zoom call on Sunday that he anticipates more live-scrimmage scenarios, trying to replicate situations that players could encounter during games.  LaFleur said some of those scrimmage situations will come inside Lambeau Field.

The Packers will start with a splitsquad format, meaning rookies and injured players working in one group and veterans in another.  That scenario allows the Packers to have as many as 90 players in camp before having to cut down to 80 on August 16.  The Packers roster currently stands at 83 players, not including four that are on the COVID-19 list. [Read more…]

Veteran Mason Crosby added to Packers reserve/COVID-19 list

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With veterans reporting to training camp, three Green Bay Packers were added to the teams COVID-19 reserve list, the biggest of the three is kicker Mason Crosby.  Joining Crosby are TE Jace Sternberger and DT Treyvon Hester.

All three either tested positive for the coronavirus or have been in close contact with someone who has.  They join DE/OLB Greg Roberts, already on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Packers are expected to start strength and conditioning work next week.  On field practices are scheduled to start on August 12.

Players who test positive but show no symptoms will be out a minimum of five days and must pass consecutive tests 24 hours apart to be cleared for return.  Those who test positive but showed symptoms can’t return until at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and at least 72 hours have passed since they experienced symptoms.

Crosby, who ranks first on the all-time franchise scoring list, signed a three-year, $12.9 million contract in February before becoming a free agent.

 

Packers WR Funchess opts out of 2020 season

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The Green Bay Packers decided not to dive into the wide receiver position during the NFL Draft.  Instead they signed veteran free agent Devin Funchess to provide some depth to the position.

But that option is now on the backburner after Funchess used the COVID-19 opt-out option available to NFL players under the collective bargaining agreement.

On his Instagram account, Funchess wrote “Family is first.”

“My closest family members have experienced the life-threatening impact of COVID-19 first hand and for their and my own safety, I’ve decided to opt out of the upcoming NFL season.  This was not a decision I took lightly but it’s what is best for my family and myself at this time. [Read more…]

Packers are finalists to host 2024 NFL Draft (AUDIO)

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Mark Murphy

Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said Thursday the team is one of three NFL franchises in the running to host the 2024 NFL Draft.

Murphy met virtually with reporters following the teams annual shareholders meeting on Thursday.

“I feel confident,” said Murphy.  “I think we’ll be able to make a really strong case.”

“The new Resch Expo will be really helpful to us in that effort, as well as Titletown.  By 2024, Titletown is going to look a lot different than it doesn now and be even more attractive as a destination.”

Reach Expo, which is a new exhibit center to the East of Lambeau Field.  It is set to be completed early next year (2021).

Murphy also told reporters that the Packers will apply to host a Big 10 championship game between 2023 [Read more…]

Packers summer camp activities will be without fans

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The Green Bay Packers today announced that there will be no fans in attendance at 2020 training camp practices, Packers Family Night and any home preseason games.

“The tremendous support of cheering fans at Lambeau Field motivates all of us in the Packers organization,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy.  “But after consulting with local health officials and reviewing League and CDC guidelines, we felt we needed to make this difficult decision.  We will miss seeing so many of our fans, particularly the young ones, during this exciting time of year.  We will continue to work on the protocols and logistics in the hope that we can welcome fans back to Lambeau Field for the regular season without jeopardizing the health of our players, team personnel and fans.

“We ask our fans to help us in this effort by wearing masks and staying six feet away from non-family members when out in the community in the coming weeks.”

The Packers will still hold “Family Night” in Lambeau Field and will be televised by a statewide audience.  The date and time for that event is still being finalized.

Plans for regular season ticket holder attendance are being finalized with details to be communicated in the year future.

Rodgers places 16th in celebrity tournament

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Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers moved up five spots from last summer, finishing 16th in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament over the weekend at Edgewood-Tahoe in Nevada.

The field used the modified Stableford scoring system.  Rodgers tallied 35 points.

Former tennis pro Mardy Fish won the event, finishing with 76 points.  Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams finished second with 67 points.

The tournament, which was played without fans, has been held every year since 2005.  Rodgers best effort was an eighth place finish back in 2017.

 

Packers preseason schedule cut in half

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NFL Training Camp start dates haven’t changed, but the number of preseason games on the schedule has.

The NFL will trim two preseason games off of its schedule, as first reported by ProFootballTalk.com.  A ESPN report said the first and fourth games of the preseason schedule will be eliminated, allowing teams more practice time for their players after missing offseason OTA’s and minicamps.

The Green Bay Packers were scheduled to open the exhibition season at home on August 15th against the Arizona Cardinals and were set to wrap up the preseason on September 3 at Kansas City against the Chiefs.  Those games are now off the schedule.

The Packers two remaining games will be a home game, August 22 against the Cleveland Browns, followed by a trip to New York to face the Giants one week later on August 29.

Teams are schedule to report to training camp July 28 and won’t play their first preseason games until sometime between Aug. 20-24.

Packers won’t use St. Norbert College this summer

For the first time since 1958, Green Bay Packers players will not be staying at St. Norbert College during training camp, in accordance with NFL safety guidelines.

Packers sign top two draft picks (UPDATE)

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A.J. Dillon

The Green Bay Packers have now signed their top two picks from the 2020 NFL Draft.

Quarterback Jordan Love, who was the 26th selection in the first round, reportedly gets a fully guaranteed four-year deal worth more than $12.3 million.  It’s the first time the 26th overall pick has received a fully guaranteed deal under the current rookie contract system.

Second-round pick A.J. Dillon also signed his rookie deal with the team and posed for a picture, which he shared on his twitter account.

The former Boston College star ran for 1,685 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and finished his collegiate career with 4,382 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Dillon joins veterans Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams as well as second year back Dexter Williams in the Packers backfield.  Jones scored 19 touchdowns for the Packers last season.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he hoped to have rookies come to camp a week before the veterans to get an early start after COVID-19 forced players to only meet virtually, missing out on OTA’s and minicamps.

Packers-Giants preseason kickoff time moved

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The kickoff time for the Green Bay Packers third preseason game at New York against the Giants has been moved from a 7 p.m. CT start to 5 p.m. CT.

The Packers 2020 preseason schedule is as follows:

Sat. Aug.  15   ARIZONA CARDINALS                     12 p.m.
Sat. Aug.  22   CLEVELAND BROWNS                       3 p.m.
Sat. Aug.  29   at New York Giants                            5 p.m.
Thu. Sept.  3   at Kansas City Chiefs                          7 p.m.

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Jordy Nelson headed to Kansas Sports Hall of Fame

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Jordy Nelson

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson will be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in October.  Nelson is one of 10 athletes set to be enshrined on Oct. 4.

The Manhattan, Kansas, native and Kansas State alumnus is also set to be inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.  That was scheduled to take place on June 5, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nelson spent 10 of his 11 NFL seasons with the Packers and helped them win Super Bowl XLV back in 2010.  He finished his career in Oakland with the Raiders for one season.

Nelson caught 613 passes for 8,587 yards and 72 touchdowns during his NFL career.

Nelson was a consensus All-American selection at Kansas State and still holds school records for single-game receptions with 15 and receiving yards with 214.  He also tops Kansas State in single season receiving yards with 1,606 and single-season yards per game (133.8).

Nelson went on to be selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.