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Matthews entering the final year of his contract, looking for more (AUDIO)

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Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews is about to enter the final year of his contract, but he would love to sign an extension and finish his career in Green Bay.

Matthews told reporters on Monday that his agency has had some discussions with the Packers about a contract extension, but those talks have not led to a deal to date.

Matthews hasn’t posted double-digit sacks since 2014 and hasn’t been selected to a Pro Bowl since 2015, but he’s been the teams most versatile and talented linebacker.

Matthews has played two dozen games at inside linebacker which undoubtedly has affected his sack production.  But Matthews still feels he has a lot of good football ahead of him.

“I’ve got a good mind in how I envision this season and my future,” Matthews said.  “So we’ll see what that holds, if that means back here for a few more years or packing my bags.”

AUDIO: Clay Matthews on being in a contract year :18

AUDIO: Clay Matthews said he would love to remain with the Packers :10

 

Packers getting healthier as they prepare to host Pittsburgh on Thursday

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Mo Wilkerson is among those that returned to practice on Sunday.

The Green Bay Packers had a number of players return to the practice field on Sunday.

Defensive lineman Mike Daniels, corner Kevin King, left tackle David Bakhtiari and running back Aaron Jones all returned but didn’t take part in team drills.

Corner Jaire Alexander, WR Adonis-Jennings, fullback Joe Kerridge, WR Randall Cobb, TE Jimmy Graham and defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson all returned and took part in all drills.

The only three players that didn’t practice were WR Trevor Davis (hamstring), RB Devante Mays (hamstring) and safety Jermaine Whitehead (back).

The Packers hold their last open training camp practice of the week today (Monday).  The rest of the week is behind closed doors with the team set to play preseason game number two on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field.

 

Packers open preseason against Tennessee

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Aaron Rodgers isn’t expected to play in Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field.  He hasn’t played in a preseason opener since 2015.  It means the battle for the backup job, between Brett Hundley and DeShone Kizer will heat up.

Hundley and Kizer are expected to split snaps with fourth-stringer Tim Boyle potentially getting a brief chance in the end.

Most of the teams starters will see little or no time, like wide receivers Davante Adams, Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison.  It leaves Jake Kumerow, J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scanting and Equanimeous St. Brown to get most of the opportunity as they battle for roster spots.  Among that group, Kumerow has been the most consistent and has drawn the endorsement of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Packer Nation will get their first look at new Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine’s defense.  The Packers are expected to see Titans starting quarterback Marcus Mariota, who is expected to play tonight.

Kick time tonight is set for 7 p.m. at Lambeau Field.

Rodgers voices displeasure with young receivers

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Aaron Rodgers

The Green Bay Packers wrapped up the practice week on Tuesday on a sour note.  Aaron Rodgers, while running the scout team offense, couldn’t find any open receivers, or receivers running the correct routes for that matter, and fired the ball to the sideline, ending practice.

While running scout team plays, each player’s assignment is drawn on a card, which is shown in the huddle.  Running the wrong route is rather inexcusable.

“It was one of the worst card sessions we’ve had,” Rodgers said.  “I don’t know how you can make it any simpler.  You literally have what the play would be in our terminology on the card, and the effort level was very low.”

Rodgers said Geronimo Allison, DeAngelo Yancey and Jake Kumerow have all earned his trust.  The rest have a lot of catching up to do.

The Packers open the preseason on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans.  Rodgers isn’t expected to play.  He hasn’t played in a preseason opener since 2015.

 

Bakhtiari expected to be OK

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#69 David Bakhtiari

Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari appears to have avoided a serious injury.

Bakhtiari was hurt during the teams Family Night practice on Saturday and was carted off to the locker room.  But Packers coach Mike McCarthy said before practice on Monday that Bakhtiari’s injury is not of the long-term nature and he will be evaluated as he goes through rehab.

Bakhtiari’s value to the Packers is substantial.  It’s hard to imagine a player that possesses more value, other than Aaron Rodgers and maybe wide receiver Davante Adams.

Kyle Murphy is expected to take Bakhtiari’s place with the first unit until he can return.

The Packers are also got right tackle Bryan Bulaga back after an ACL injury knocked him out of action last season.

The Packers also placed linebacker Jake Ryan on injured reserve.  They had defensive backs Kevin King (shoulder) and Jaire Alexander (groin) sit out of practice on Monday with injury.

Bulaga cleared to return to practice with the Packers

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Bryan Bulaga

Green Bay Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga was activated off the physically unable to perform list on Friday, less than nine months after he tore the ACL in his right knee.

“He just passed his physical today, so Bryan Bulaga will practice in a limited-return mode,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday at his press conference.  “I know he’s excited about the news that he got this morning from Dr. McKenzie.

The move will allow Bulaga to ease his way back and be ready to go for the regular season opener against the Chicago Bears on September 9 at Lambeau Field.

Jason Spriggs, Kyle Murphy and Byron Bell had been splitting time at right tackle with Bulaga doing some individual drill work on the sidelines.

Bulaga has two years left on a five-year, $33.75 million contract.  He’s set to earn $6.75 million this season.

It leaves Nick Perry (ankle) as the only player in camp yet to practice.  McCarthy told reporters that Perry remains on the PUP.

Ryan out for the season

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Jake Ryan

Green Bay Packers linebacker Jake Ryan suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in practice on Monday and will miss the rest of the season.

Ryan, who is in the final year of his contract in Green Bay, also tore his right ACL when he was in college at the University of Michigan.  He will earn his base salary of $1.907 million for this season.

Ryan was set to start in the Packers base defense, now Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine will have to find an alternative.  Pettine has used a number of players during practice this week, including Quentin Rollins, Josh Jones and Jermaine Whitehead and rookie Oren Burks in the dime package.

On Tuesday, general manager Brian Gutekunst said he had no plans to replace Ryan with a veteran.  He wanted to see how Burks and the other young players do in Camp.  Ahmad Thomas, Greer Martini and Naashon Hughes have all shown flashes in the first week.

Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was asked on Wednesday how me might replace Ryan.  Pettine said, “Well, certainly we have experience in a guy that was very productive last year in Blake.  We have the rookie, O.B. (Burks), who has looked good at times.  Still, the transition from the college game to the NFL, it takes some time.

“It’s tough for those guys to come in, and it overwhelms them a little bit at first.  And especially now, we’re working off the entire inventory.  And once we get to game plan situations, we really cut it down.  That’s going to help a lot of our guys that have a lot of stuff running through their head.

“Ahmad Thomas has flashed, certainly, some coverage ability in the days so far.  And then we have some other, younger guys.  We’ll see how it plays out.  It’s a big loss.”

Packers have a tough day on Monday (AUDIO)

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Jake Ryan

Less than a week into training camp, the Green Bay Packers have already suffered what appears to be at least their first major injury.

Linebacker Jake Ryan went down during an 11-on-11 drill, grabbing his knee in pain.

Blake Martinez spoke with Ryan right after practice and said the linebacker was devastated.

The Packers didn’t release any information on Ryan’s injury.  He’ll undergo an MRI today, to determine the seriousness of the injury and just how long he’ll be out.

Next up behind Ryan is rookie Oren Burks, who has played all of the positions in the first week of training camp.

Safety Kentrell Brice also was carted off with a leg injury and defensive end Mike Daniels left with early but said he’ll be OK.

The Packers will return to the practice field on Tuesday.

AUDIO: Blake Martinez says Ryan was devastated after practice :12

AUDIO: Blake Martinez says they have to step up :22

 

 

Rodgers moves forward without extension (Training Camp)

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Aaron Rodgers

The majority of the questions fielded by Aaron Rodgers following his first Green Bay Packers training camp practice had to do with the contract extension we all thought he would have by now, but still remains without.

Rodgers certainly didn’t rule out the possibility of signing an extension this year, but he said his focus has now gone elsewhere.

Rodgers had two years left on his current deal, so there’s time.  But there are a number of quarterbacks now that are averaging more per year than Rodgers.

“I don’t know if there’s a timetable,” Rodgers said.  “The feelings haven’t changed.  Obviously, I’d love to be here, and I think they’ve spoken at length about wanting to extend my deal.  But now that I’m here, my focus is definitely on other places.  It’s on my teammates, my leadership role, my performance on the field.  That’s why I have Dave Dunn (his agent) to take care of all that stuff.” [Read more…]

Bulaga is optimistic, but disappointed to start on the PUP

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Bryan Bulaga

When Bryan Bulaga arrived for training camp, his knee was feeling good.  Bulaga thought he would pass his physical and join his teammates on the practice field on Thursday.

The Packers had other ideas, deciding instead to put Bulaga on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start camp.  That didn’t sit well with Bulaga.

“Yeah, I’m disappointed that I started on PUP,” Bulaga said Thursday.  “It’s been a tough road rehabbing and getting back to this point and reeling really well at this point.”

Mike McCarthy said he thought Bulaga would be ready for the season opener against Chicago.

“He looks great,” McCarthy said.  ” I think Bryan has been here the whole summer except for maybe one day, two days.  I know that he was in here every day that I was in here.”

The Packers have a number of players vying for playing time at right tackle if Bulaga isn’t ready to go.  Jason Spriggs worked with the one’s on the first day of training camp practice on Thursday.  Kyle Murphy, Byron Bell and Justin McCray round out the group.  McCray and Spriggs started games last season after Bulaga suffered the initial injury.

It’ll take Bulaga some time to regain confidence in the knee and get ready for the season opener.  How much time he gets from team doctors remains to be seen.