With a 23-10 victory over the Browns in Cleveland, the Green Bay Packers came out of their preseason opener reasonably unscathed; the only injury the organization disclosed concerned rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd’s hamstring.
Three plays in, second-year receiver Dontayvion Wicks scored a 65-yard touchdown to open the scoring, and new quarterback Jordan Love hardly saw the field.
Here are nine additional things I learned from Green Bay’s first of three exhibition games, along with further information on that play.
1. How come Love’s deep ball still needs improvement? I joke, but considering what we have witnessed in camp, it may use some improvement. However, his blow to Wicks was undoubtedly encouraging. After Wicks faked left and beat safety Ronnie Hickman from just inside the numbers, veteran safety Rodney McLeod Jr. decided to assist safety Grant Delpit in covering receiver Jayden Reed on a crossing route to the left side of the field. This left Wicks and Hickman facing each other one-on-one down the right side of the field. Wicks completed the job after Love put it on him, giving the Packers a 6-0 lead and the afternoon off for the starters.
“We had a great play dialed up for that situation,” Love said. “One-on-one with Wicks in the slot, faking the handoff and he ran a great route, kind of lulled him to sleep at the top and then was able to go past him. (I) just put the ball out there for him and he made the rest happen. Great play by him.”
Didn't take long for Jordan Love 🙌 @Packers take an early lead!
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
📱: Stream #GBvsCLE on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/yyJlhvP170
2. Every day in camp, second-year defensive end Lukas Van Ness produces at least one highlight play. He added a few more on Saturday, demonstrating once again why the Packers selected him with their first-round choice in the previous season. Early in the game, defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt’s pressure helped Van Ness complete a sack. Later in the first quarter, Van Ness recorded two tackles for loss against the run on consecutive plays. Cleveland was unable to convert a fourth-and-four after failing to convert one on second-and-two and another on third-and-three. Additionally, he pressured quarterback Tyler Huntley by running a twist against guard Javion Cohen, which resulted in a sack by defensive tackle Colby Wooden. Van Ness performed a piece regarding
3. Wide receiver Grant DuBose was another guy who carried over from his impressive camp performances into the opening preseason game. Due to a back ailment, the 2023 seventh-round selection from UNC Charlotte missed both the start of camp and the summer program, spending the season on the practice squad. He trained in South Florida this summer with Reed and Wicks, and since coming back to Green Bay, he has been healthy and effective.
With five catches for 66 yards, DuBose led the Packers on Saturday. He also earned a defensive holding penalty deep in the end zone on third-and-eight, which gave the team a first down. With 10 seconds remaining in the first half, he skillfully pulled both feet inbounds close to the left sideline for a 23-yard pass from backup quarterback Sean Clifford to the 28-yard line, which was arguably his most amazing grab. This placed Green Bay in position for a field goal.
“Grant’s been putting out some great tape,” Clifford said. “All our receivers have, but it’s great to see Grant, especially after last season with his injury and everything. I thought he was able to put out some really good tape. The catch on the sideline was fantastic. Him dragging his toe. Very, very happy for Grant.”
Malik Heath and Samori Toure are expected to compete with DuBose for the sixth wide receiver slot; however, it may be his special teams and blocking skills that will help him more than his pass-catching proficiency in his quest for a roster place. Speaking of them, DuBose aided in setting up running back Emanuel Wilson’s 5-yard touchdown run as he moved inside and took aim at former Packer cornerback Tony Brown II as Wilson pushed in behind him.
“I sat the whole last year,” DuBose said. “This offseason was pretty good for me. I just wanted to take advantage of it. It’s not anything fairly new to me. I always had to sit and wait for my number to be called. I think that it’s made me and built me for these type of moments. Like I said, I just wanted to take advantage of it — and I feel like I did some good things today.”
.@1kEmanuelWilson scores from five yards out!#GBvsCLE pic.twitter.com/Pw9ZgDVIFg
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 10, 2024
4. Bo Melton, the wide receiver, and running back AJ Dillon did not have the best afternoon. Despite having only two yards on four carries, Dillon was not helped by his blocking. On a second-and-1, the Packers ran Dillon three times in a row, but they failed to advance the chains or turn the ball over on downs. Not beneficial to any parties concerned.
Melton had three drops, but Clifford had thrown balls a little behind him for his first two. When third-string quarterback Michael Pratt ripped a short pass for what would have been a first down on a third-and-2 play in the red zone, it was evident that he had dropped the ball. Luckily for the Packers, the ball bounced off Melton’s chest and popped up, forcing them to attempt a field goal rather than go for a first-and-goal. Melton mishandled Clifford’s handoff on a jet sweep as well. The fumble set him back a few yards on the play, but he recovered and still gained four yards.
5. Second-round rookie selection At safety, Javon Bullard and Xavier McKinney got the start together, but Evan Williams, a fourth-round pick and rookie, had yet another brilliant play in a camp full of them for the Oregon product. With four interceptions in practice this summer, he is tied for the team lead with cornerback Eric Stokes. His forced fumble at the beginning of the second half on Saturday gave him more experience in what has been and should remain an exciting competition for the starting spot next to McKinney.
On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Williams knocked the ball loose from running back John Kelly Jr. before linebacker Kristian Welch recovered it. Coach Matt LaFleur had informed sideline reporter Ashley Washburn at halftime that he wanted a defensive takeaway.
“We just talked about the importance of getting the ball back in the locker room,” Williams said. “We always go over that in practice and just during the play, it was a little screen pass, dump down. Just saw a clear path and thought, ‘OK, I’ll probably be the one making this play.’ I put my shoulder in a good spot. I think my arm and shoulder combo was able to knock it out. I saw the ball come out. I tried to leap on it but saw another green jersey on it and celebrated with the guys.”
6. Andre Dillard, a seasoned player, appears to have an advantage against Kadeem Telfort and Caleb Jones for the swing tackle position with the Packers based on the starting lineup. Dillard started at right tackle since Zach Tom, the team’s regular starting right tackle, was not playing because he had just returned to team drills after recovering from a torn pectoral. The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2019 first-round selection started camp there, but Telfort took his place a few days later. The question of which of the three can best insure Tom and left tackle Rasheed Walker has been a constant source of contention.
7. Wilson’s 23-yard rush up the left side in the third quarter is arguably the play that will garner the most attention in the film room. Wilson will not, however, receive the greatest round of applause despite his outstanding play in breaking cornerback Justin Hardee Sr.’s ankles. If you look closely, you can see Pratt sprint by Wilson and around the left edge before driving his throwing shoulder into safety Chris Edmonds, who is the lead blocker. I wonder if LaFleur will dream about the play or imagine that his rookie quarterback is unable to throw because the block was delivered too forcefully.
A sneaky move by @1kEmanuelWilson for the first down and then some 💨
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
📱: Stream #GBvsCLE on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Ull9c03s2c
8. Jaire, the cornerback Out of the twelve DNPs, Alexander was the only one who was not hurt. Alexander was released from duty due to a private concern.
9. Footballers Greg Joseph and Anders Carlson were not overly tested; Carlson made two extra-pointers from 46 and 33 yards, while Joseph converted his lone field goal attempt from 35 yards.
10. Love expressed his desire to play more during the preseason after seeing just three snaps on Saturday, but LaFleur stated that the most of the starters will not play against the Broncos in Denver on Sunday. Rather, LaFleur stated that he will utilize Friday’s combined practice to provide the starters with those crucial reps.
(Photo of Jordan Love: Jason Miller / Getty Images)
