Brian from Sugar Land, TX
The loss in Denver is over. And now the Ravens, traditionally a mean, physical team, come in with a practice and a game ahead of them. This should be interesting, especially as the final warm-up for the regular season, which will be played at home. How far could it go to set the tone for the early season?
Everything is relative in August, but I think it’s important to hold serve on home turf like Denver did last week. It’s your field, your facility and your football. It’s also the last chance for Jordan Love and the offense to focus on the details before successes and failures translate into wins and losses. I expect the Packers to set the tone today.
Mark from West Des Moines, IA
Which position battle is most exciting as the Packers’ training camp comes to a close?
The competition at kicker and linebacker will have the biggest impact on Week 1 game day, but the offensive line and receivers are the closest allies on the 53-man roster.
What do you think about the last warm-up game on Saturday? Is there anything to watch out for on offense?
I want to see who becomes the next Chris Banjo, James Crawford or Justin McCray. There’s always an unsung hero in the final preseason game who does something incredible to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Who’s next?
Brian from Charlottesville, VA
Do you think the Packers will keep eight WRs at 53? What are the chances that No. 8 could be Elgton Jenkins?
Jenkins’ superior ball-playing skills give the Packers a lot of flexibility here. Seriously, anything goes at receiver. Eight might be a bit much, but that’s not unprecedented. They took eight to the regular season opener as recently as 2018. Seven might be a bit more realistic, as the Packers have had seven or more wideouts on their Week 1 roster three times in the last eight years.
George from North Mankato, MN
Apart from the fact that you got away without any significant injuries, what do you think makes a successful final pre-season game?
It doesn’t have to be perfect, but performance, points and promise suggest the Packers are where they need to be.
Did I miss something? When did James Campen return to the Packers and in what role?
Campy is back with the Packers as a scouting consultant under General Manager Brian Gutekunst. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cry a little when I found out he was coming back. James Campen embodies everything that makes the Green Bay Packers great. Campy is not only an outstanding football fan, but also one of the best people you could imagine. The man unknowingly bought me a Rustique pizza on one of the worst days of my life. He knows people and football. Both qualities are welcome here.
William from Newburgh, IN
“No late-round draft pick is the total package.” Had to laugh out loud. Look at Tom Brady’s photo when he was a rookie. He looked like he should be delivering my newspaper. You can never really measure a man’s heart, can you?
That’s the one variable you can’t measure. NFL scouts do their best to get to know players and understand what makes them tick, but you don’t really know until the player steps in the arena and performs. In that regard, no one has done it better than TB12.
The last preseason game is fast approaching and shortly after that the cut-downs are looming. Will the coaches put the bubble players in special down-and-distance situations to decide whether they will be included in the squad?
They put these guys in every situation. Tuesday’s practice ended with a thrilling two-point conversion. Throughout training camp, the Packers prepare for every game situation imaginable to build that catalog of games.
I don’t like when plays that can make a difference are eliminated, like the kick return. I think I have the solution to the free kick situation. Make the kick from the goal line! This moves everything up 20 yards and gives the opportunity to make the kick return. Thanks for bringing us the news.
I’m in watch-and-see mode when it comes to kickoff. The NFL wanted to reinvent the wheel this offseason. No problem, but I’m not ready to judge the craftsmanship yet. The game will be what it will be.
