The Day 6 Message

Better tempo and a naughty boy

The overall energy level picked up, as requested by Head Coach Matt LaFleur, the offense finally got the better of the defense to finish the longest practice of training camp but the first scuffle of the summer had serious consequences for one Green Bay Packer.

Midway through practice number six, running back Tra Carson took a handoff and hit a middle hole, glanced off Blake Martinez and continued on, colliding with Tony Brown further downfield.  Third year safety Josh Jones must have thought it was uncalled for because he got a hold of Carson and tackled him hard to the ground.

Carson and Jones got up jawing, they wrestled for a moment and just when it looked like they might come to blows, the cavalry arrived to pull them apart.

The boss was not happy.   LaFleur sent Jones to the sideline for the rest of the practice and you knew the scrape would come up during his post-practice news conference:

 (Audio: Matt LaFleur)

Jones could not have endeared himself with the coaching staff by deciding to skip the voluntary organized team activities and hinting about a desire to be traded earlier this spring.  Now the naughty boy is right back in the doghouse.

While one Jones got in half a practice, another Jones missed the entire day.

(Aaron Jones sits out Wednesday's practice)

Aaron Jones didn't go because of hamstring "tightness".   His running mate in the backfield, Jamal Williams is still out with a hamstring pull, leaving the backfield thin for the day.

Carson and rookie Dexter Williams got the majority of reps with the first unit.   Williams got a pat on the helmet from Aaron Rodgers with a solid blitz pick-up during one team period.

Another draft choice finally made his camp debut.   Darnell Savage, the second of the two first round picks had his wisdom teeth pulled just before camp opened.    He was placed on the non-football injury list and missed the first five workouts as a precaution.   The mouth is feeling better and Savage is happy to be doing what he wants to, play ball.

 (Audio: Darnell Savage)

Savage jumped right back into the starting lineup for the first team period but was on a limited snap count.  His work load will increase daily.

For the first time in camp, LaFleur had the offense run a two minute drill.   Rodgers and the starting offense had 1:20 on the clock to drive 70 yards.   A couple of mid-range completions to Davante Adams got them into position and on first and 10 from the 34, Rodgers lobbed a high ball to the corner of the end zone.  Marquez Valdes-Scantling was blanketed by Jaire Alexander but with just a nudge (according to MVS) or a blatant pass interference shove aside (Alexander),  Valdes-Scantling made a terrific leaping catch for a touchdown.   It was a badly needed win for the offense in a competitive period.

With the same starting scenario, DeShone Kizer couldn't get anything for the second team but Tim Boyle got the third stringers in position for Sam Ficken to hit a walk-off 48 yard field goal.

Late in the day, Brian Gutekunst signed another new player.  The Packers claimed linebacker Markus Jones off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens and to make room, waived-injured defensive back Javien Hamilton.   Jones is 6-3, 249, a rookie from Angelo State who went undrafted.   Hard to believe judging from his production.  In 45 games, he had 37 sacks, 77.5 tackles for losses, 11 forced fumbles and 12 blocked kicks.  He was the NCAA Division II defensive player of the year last season.

That made three named Jones in the headlines on the sixth day of camp.