The Good, Bad And Ugly From Day 5 Of Packers’ Training Camp

The Green Bay Packers held their fifth training camp practice on Monday and put the pads on for the first time.

The Packers’ most physical practice of the summer lasted 1 hour, 56 minutes with temperatures hitting 90-degrees with a heat index of 100 degrees.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly from practice No. 5.

THE GOOD

MR. AUTOMATIC: Remember when Matt LaFleur had to pray when Anders Carlson lined up for field goals in 2023? Things were even worse when Bryden Narveson was given the kicking job for the first six weeks of 2024?

Today, Green Bay’s kicking position might be the best it’s ever been — and that’s saying something for team that’s employed Mason Crosby, Ryan Longwell and Chris Jacke over the past 35 years.

But kicker Brandon McManus has been about as close to perfect as you’ll find since the Packers signed him last October.

McManus made 20-of-21 field goals during the regular season last year, as well as all 30 of his extra points. So far, McManus is perfect 23-of-23 on kicks this camp after going 8-for-8 on Monday.

“The thing that’s most important is when we’re working everyone’s locked in,” McManus said. “The amount of reps doesn’t really matter to me, it’s just the quality of those reps.”

McManus went undrafted in 2013 and spent that training camp in Indianapolis. McManus knew he wouldn’t make the team with future Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri already there, but he impressed and has enjoyed a stellar career since breaking into the league in 2014.

“I had a chance to learn a lot from (Vinatieri), be a sponge, listen to him and talk through each situation and scenario,” McManus said. “When I was there, I did a lot of listening vs. now, me having experienced all of that stuff, I’m the one who’s talking.

“But Vinatieri was phenomenal. We’re still friends to this day. He’s been great.”

JENKINS RETURNS: Elgton Jenkins, who’s moving from left guard to center, was activated off the non-football injury (NFI) list and took part in his first practice. Jenkins had missed the first four practices with a back injury.

Jenkins hasn’t been a full-time center since the 2018 season, his final year at Mississippi State.

“There was definitely some rust that had to be knocked off,” Jenkins said. “I played (center) in college, got drafted here as a center. It’s not going to be anything different. I played it last year, played it a couple games early in my career, so it’s not going to be nothing crazy and I feel like I’ll to be a great center in this league.”

Jenkins skipped the Packers’ voluntary OTA’s, then reported to minicamp in June, but didn’t practice.

Jenkins has two years left on the contract he signed in 2022. The average of that deal is $17 million, which would make him one of the NFL’s highest paid centers.

Traditionally, though, guards are paid more than centers, meaning the positional change could cost Jenkins in future earnings.

Jenkins, who turns 30 on Dec. 26, is scheduled to earn $12.8 million this year and $20 million in 2026. The only guaranteed money Jenkins received when he signed his contract extension was a $24 million signing bonus.

Jenkins was asked if he thinks Green Bay might alter his contract?

“No, I don’t,” he said. “Right now, it’s just being the best player I can be, being the best teammate. Like I said, man, I know what I’m going to do this season. I’m confident in my ability, very confident in it. So just going out there playing ball, keep doing what I’ve been doing and it’s going to take care of itself.”

REAL FOOTBALL: The Packers practiced in pads for the first time this camp, and head coach Matt LaFleur emphasized safety with his team.

“The same message as it is every day,” LaFleur said of his message. “Compete to be your best and take care of each other. We had a long talk about and video showing the rules of engagement – things that were good from a year ago and things that weren’t great.

“But, bottom line is we need everybody to stay up off their feet. We’re not going to the ground today, so that’s the expectation that I have for our guys. I love the competitive spirit out there but I want them to take each other, as well.

TWO-MINUTE FUN: During the two-minute drill, Green Bay’s offense started on its own 30 with 1:45 left and facing a 30-28 deficit. The Packers moved to the defense’s 25, then McManus drilled a 43-yard field goal for the win.

Quarterback Jordan Love hit wideout Jayden Reed three times on the drive, including once down the seam for 20.

“Me and J-Love was just connecting man,” Reed said. “It was the 2-minute drill so it was kind of our fast-pitch stuff, just trying to get the ball down the field and me and J-Love connected well on that drive.”

THIS AND THAT: Malik Willis and Savion Williams connected for a 32-yard gain. … Matthew Golden went up for an impressive contested catch over Keisean Nixon. … Linebacker Quay Walker, who had been out with an ankle injury, participated in team reps for the first time this camp.

THE BAD

MISFIRING: Quarterback Jordan Love threw his third interception of camp.

Love fired high for Matthew Golden — a ball that hit the wideout’s fingertips and could have been ruled a drop — and was intercepted by cornerback Nate Hobbs.

THIS AND THAT: Malik Heath had the wind knocked out of him after falling on the football and didn’t return. … Golden, a rookie first round draft pick, had his first drop of training camp. … The only players not practicing were wideout Christian Watson (knee), offensive lineman John Williams (back and linebacker Collin Oliver (hamstring).

THE UGLY

TAKING A TIMEOUT: Cornerback Nate Hobbs was sent to the sideline for a stretch after going low on a tackle of running back MarShawn Lloyd.

Lloyd limped off with a trainer and didn’t return. Hobbs, who had been warned by LaFleur about being overaggressive earlier in camp, was then benched for a stretch.

“He sat me for a second,” Hobbs said of LaFleur. “Put me in timeout. Let me think about my decisions. And I thought about it real good.

“It wasn’t an intentional decision like, ‘Oh, I’m going to tackle him.’ It was like, I was behind a blocker, once I popped back in and got my vision on the ball-carrier, he was as close as we are and his shoulder pads go a little down so by nature, I got low, just to protect myself so I wouldn’t look crazy and get run over. You know what I’m saying? And I got low, I kind of dropped my knee on the ground and I kind of shot and I didn’t try to tackle him, I just got too low.”

While Lloyd didn’t re-enter, he did remain on the sideline which might be a sign his injury wasn’t significant. Meanwhile, Hobbs — one of the Packers’ prized free agents — knows he might have to dial it down on the practice field.

“You’ve got to know how to tone it down or turn it off, but by nature, I’m aggressive, you know what I’m saying?” Hobbs said. “I don’t even know how to play real game-like football but one way.

“But in practice, (LaFleur) had all the right to do what he did and it was nothing malicious. It was just me trying to be a dependable teammate, get to the ball and be physical but we’ve got to take care of the team and I take full accountability for that accident.”

FROM THE ARCHIVES

• Training camp: Day 4

• Training camp: Day 3

• Training camp: Day 2

• Training camp: Day 1