Green Bay, Wisconsin — Even though he has the largest signing bonus in team history and is currently tied for the highest salary among quarterbacks in the NFL, Packers quarterback Jordan Love still participates in games that are not worth playing.
Love and the other starters will play in the preseason opener in Cleveland on Saturday afternoon, according to head coach Matt LaFleur’s statement on Tuesday. Right tackle Zach Tom, who will not play after taking part in 11-on-11 drills for the first time on Tuesday following the rehabilitation of a torn pectoral, is one of the players who the Packers will be extra cautious with if they are dealing with ailments that they would ordinarily play if it were a regular season game. Josh Jacobs, a running back, returned to practice on Tuesday after missing the previous two due to a groin ailment, but LaFleur stated that his status is now unknown.
Josh Jacobs back pic.twitter.com/PrXjpV3cyi
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How much Love and other starters play is to be determined, but LaFleur said there is a plan for Love this preseason that is subject to change.
“I think just going through kind of reevaluating the last couple years from when we’ve had guys not play and last year having them, all the guys play, I thought it was beneficial for us early on, especially Week 1, just to kind of knock some of the rust off,” said LaFleur, whose team handily beat the Bears to open last season. “I think there was a lot of value in going through, getting your mind right to get ready to play a football game. Obviously, we’re going to be smart with those guys. The last thing we want to do is put guys at risk. I mean, there’s an inherent risk, right, every time you go out on the field, but we’ll be smart with him. But at the same time, I do think just the preparation of getting ready for a game is invaluable and why not use those opportunities?”
Love said there is benefit in suiting up on Saturday, even if it is just for a short while, even if his predecessor did not play in the preseason towards the end of his Green Bay career and he does not necessarily need game repetitions with receivers and tight ends that he already has a year of familiarity with.
“I think just getting back on the field, getting those live reps again and just getting back that feel of being in a game,” Love said. “I’m excited just to be able to get the feel of the season getting started, so get out there, see how long we’re out there, but I mean any time you get to be on the field, I think it’s a good opportunity to work on things, get better.”
These are six more things you ought to be aware of from the 11th training camp practice on Tuesday.
1. Tucker Kraft, a second-year tight end, made his camp debut on Tuesday after sitting out the first ten sessions to heal a torn pectoral muscle he sustained while lifting weights in the offseason (which is also how Tom got hurt). It is nice to have Kraft back on the field in any form, even though he merely worked individually and will be gradually introduced into the game exactly one month before it kicks off in Brazil against the Eagles. After fellow rookie tight end Luke Musgrave missed a large amount of time due to a lacerated kidney, Kraft flourished the following season. He finished his rookie year with 31 receptions for 355 yards and two touchdowns, and he added another touchdown against the 49ers in the postseason. Kraft declared that he would not participate in the first
“The last 12 weeks have been a grind, just trying to do my best to take care of my body and be ahead of the protocol,” Kraft said. “I’m excited to be back … I’m doing really good. Feeling really healthy. Ahead of the protocol, so it feels good.”
2. During practice, kickers Greg Joseph and Anders Carlson struggled with a strong wind in their faces, making just four of seven field goal tries and missing three of their previous four. Carlson’s first three kicks came from 32, 39, and 41 yards, while Joseph’s first three came from 35, 39, and 41 yards. They then changed their approach, as the wind destroyed some of Joseph’s and Carlson’s balls. Joseph made a 33-yarder, but missed from 41 wide right, 42 wide left, and 53 off the right upright. Carlson also made a 33-yarder. During open practices, Joseph is currently 40 of 47 on field goal kicks, while Carlson is 37 of 47.
“The practice field, it is a little more difficult to kick over there because when you get in Lambeau, maybe it’s not as windy,” Carlson said. “The practice field, it’s very open, so the wind coming off the bay or wherever it’s coming from will come in and sometimes it does bounce off … I didn’t like one of the hits. The other two I didn’t mind actually. Just gotta go watch it and see how we did.”
3. On Tuesday, a few players had butterfingers when reliable wide receiver Romeo Doubs and rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd both fumbled the ball and dropped a pass on different plays. After a rush up the center, Lloyd coughed up the ball after a swing pass to the left side struck him squarely in the chest and sent him to the ground. When Love’s ball flew straight through Doubs’ hands over the middle, he was wide open, and later in practice, after making a grab, he also fumbled. Although Doubs has shown himself to be a reliable receiver, Lloyd’s ball security lacks some of the same assurance. Additionally, he mishandled a handoff during his second 11-on-11 touch this
4. Jaire, the cornerback During Tuesday’s team exercises, Alexander had a vintage Jaire day. He engaged Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks, two wide receivers, like white on rice to force incompletions and sprinkled in a fair amount of trash talk elsewhere in practice. Love’s pass to Watson found its way into the receiver’s hands, but Alexander’s hold on the receiver’s back was so tight that the ball came loose and Alexander nearly stole it. Love turned to face Alexander in an end-of-half situation before flinging the ball away on the opposing side of the field. Alexander chirped Doubs that he was not open against him and heckled Love to turn away. After Love’s long pass attempt for the second-year receiver was not successful, Alexander also gave Wicks a hard time.
Five plays stood out: Love’s dart down the right sideline while running past safety Anthony Johnson Jr. to Watson for roughly 25 yards; defensive end Lukas Van Ness’ destruction of a pass left to Jacobs; and linebacker Eric Wilson’s blitz and sack of quarterback Michael Pratt after beating tackle Caleb Jones.
6. Jordan Morgan, a rookie selected in the first round, and a trainer left practice early. For the past few practices, the college left tackle has been starting at right guard. We will not know anything more about his injuries until Wednesday because he was not in the locker room following practice. Tom, Jacobs, and Kraft all saw an increase in participation, but new absences included wide receivers Rory Starkey (calf) and Dimitri Stanley (hamstring), as well as defensive end Kingsley Enagbare (hamstring), cornerback Carrington Valentine (hamstring), and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hip). Quay Walker was replaced by rookie third-round linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper in the starting lineup, but Walker stated during practice that “everything’s OK.”
(Photo: Tork Mason / USA Today)
