Lawns and flowers loved it, Matt LaFleur didn’t. A rainy day forced the Packers to practice in helmets and shoulder pads for about an hour and 45 minutes inside the Don Hutson Center today. LaFleur said before going out he really hoped to stay outside, practicing on the indoor turf is unwanted stress on his team’s legs but they had no choice.
A lot of players were held out because of injury or rest. That list included Tyler Davis, the tight end who is injured reserve bound for the season after tearing his ACL in Cinncinnati. Eric Stokes still isn’t ready to come off the PUP list. Also sidelined were Tariq Carpenter (back), Tyler Goodson (shoulder), Innis Gaines, Lew Nichols, Luke Tenuta and Caleb Jones. Veterans David Bakhtiari and Kenny Clark got the day off. Rashan Gary continued to take part in only individual drills and Jaire Alexander sat out team periods as well.
The last team period featured the play of the day and it was delivered once again by 7th round pick Carrington Valentine. The Kentucky defensive back picked off Jordan Love on an out route to Romeo Doubs and raced up the sideline for about an 80 yard pick six. He showed up big time in Cincinnati with an interception and three pass break-ups. Valentine is taking first team reps while Alexander has been sitting and he’s more than holding his own. Matter of fact, going back 15 years, he appears to be ready for the college to NFL transition more than maybe a couple of much higher draft picks, like Jaire. Valentine has made far more plays than the 2021 first rounder Stokes did in his first camp, same for Darnell Savage. Young corners need time, as was the case for the likes of former first rounders Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or Damarious Randall, and second or third rounders like Pat Lee, Morgan Burnett, Casey Hayward, Quinten Rollins, Josh Jackson and Kevin King. Valentine’s confidence is growing by the rep and he could find himself in the rotation come opening day.
Another youngster drew praise from LaFleur today. Safety Anthony Johnson, the sixth rounder out of Iowa State. He nearly pulled down a leaping interception last Friday night and his speed is noticeable on special teams where he excelled in Ames.
Kicker Anders Carlson still has the Scott Norwood affliction, wide right. After missing two extra points in Ohio, Carlson, kicking indoors today, was wide right on his first live point after kick. He put through 41 and 44 yard field goals after that. In his second set, Carlson was good with another PAT but pushed a 45 yarder wide right before making a 47 yarder and he finished with a 51 yard boot that was true. Anders said his timing has been a little rushed, getting his foot on the ball just a hair sooner than it should which is right the kicks are being pushed to the right, something he says will continue to get work as the days progress.
The rainy day also forced a special event inside the Johnsonville Tailgate Village Monday morning.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
With a couple hundred fans and guests in attendance, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in town to congratulate and celebrate the Packers and the city of Green Bay getting selected to host the 2025 NFL Draft. What was once a 17 round, tedious affair conducted in a New York City hotel ballroom, the draft has become a massive television event. The highlight of the league’s off-season has gone on the road beginning with Chicago 15 years ago. Green Bay will be the 14th city to host the event in late April of ’25, less than 20 months away. Goodell is delighted the league’s gold standard franchise will be showcased, with Lambeau Field and the Titletown District as a venue, with a massive television audience.
Packers President Mark Murphy estimates 240,000 people may converge on Green Bay and the region during the week which will have an economic impact of 94 million dollars statewide, 20 million of that locally. Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers also addressed the crowd detailing the public, private partnership that helped bring it all about. Evers allocated two million dollars in this year’s state budget to help Discover Green Bay, the area’s tourism organization, put on what should be a wonderful show.
