Back from a very spotty performance in Baltimore, the Packers resumed training camp Sunday with Aaron Rodgers still on the sidelines with back tightness.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur tried changing things up a bit by having the team go through it's competitive period at the start, rather than the finish of practice. It was a third and goal series but on the very first snap, rookie Dexter Wililams made an assignment error that LaFleur actually snapped at, sending the running back to the sidelines.
The practice seemed to go downhill from there.
Pre-snap penalties, alignment confusion, turnovers (good for the defense), plagued the offense again. LaFleur said a first go with no huddle plays and working off scouting cards for the first time seemed to bog things down a bit.
After the 1:55 practice, LaFleur fielded more questions about Rodgers now missing practice time (he hasn't taken a snap in the pre-season with two games to go), and whether he's gotten enough work in this camp to be ready to play for keeps against the Bears in Chicago September 5.
(Audio: Matt LaFleur)
Rodgers wasn't the only one sidelined. A dozen players were not dressed. Kevin King, Josh Jones, Ka'Dar Hollman, Jace Sternberger, Greg Roberts, Danny Vitale, Reggie Gilbert, Oren Burks, Kabion Ento, Ibraheim Campbell and David Bakhtiari.
The starting left tackle wasn't hurt, he was just a little late getting back from a weekend wedding (not his).
There were a couple of welcome returns to Ray Nitschke Field however.
(Jamaal Williams finally returns from hamstring injury Sunday)
Jamaal Williams was cleared to practice after missing all of camp with a hamstring injury. He didn't take part in any team drills, running extra on his own. LaFleur said he'll be eased back into it and probably won't play Thursday night.
Trevor Davis also came back for the first time since injuring his neck during a live kickoff drill with the Houston Texans two weeks ago. Fadol Brown and Malcolm Johnson were also back at it.
Another player left practice sooner than he wanted. After making a terrific catch early in practice, out jumping several defenders on a tipped ball for a touchdown, Jimmy Graham took a DeShone Kizer fastball on his finger. Immediately after the ball hit the ground, Graham jogged into the Hutson Center with a trainer to get treatment on what LaFleur called a jammed finger. Graham deal with a dislocated thumb for a good portion of last year.
Mason Crosby and Sam Ficken resumed their kicking competition Sunday, attempting field goals from 22, 28, 33 and 40 yards out with a swirling wind. It was not trouble for either, each going four for four. LaFleur admitted it might be time to move beyond chip shots for the final two weeks of camp.
That's right, only two weeks left. I'm starting to wonder if they might not need another couple of weeks to get ready.
