The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Packers’ 15th Training Camp Practice

THE GOOD

GOOD NEWS: Running back Josh Jacobs was back in team drills for the first time since suffering a groin injury early in camp, and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele took part in team drills for the first time this summer following offseason knee surgery.

Jacobs had a team-high 929 rushing yards, as well as 13 touchdowns on 234 carries (4.0 average) last season. Jacobs also battled a knee injury the second half of 2025, which led to him being inactive in Week 12.

Bako-Bewele signed a four-year, $88 million contract extension with the Packers in July, 2025. He then battled through a frustrating season in which he missed six games and couldn’t finish three others due to injury.

Bako-Bewele suffered a partially torn patellar tendon against Denver in Week 15 that needed offseason surgery. He’s been doing individual drills, but was back doing 11-on-11 Monday.

MORE GOOD NEWS: Green Bay rookie corner Brandon Cisse was also back on the practice field after suffering a minor knee injury during the Packers’ win at Denver on Aug. 21.

Cisse, a second round draft choice in April, has had a strong training camp and appears in good position to be a Week 1 starter when the Packers head to Minnesota on Sept. 13.

Other Packers that returned to practice included offensive lineman Darian Kinnard (ankle), wideout Jayden Reed (personal), and receiver J. Michael Sturdivant (concussion protocol).

BROTHERLY LOVE?: One of the side attractions of Green Bay’s joint practice with Arizona on Wednesday will be the LaFleur brothers squaring off for the first time as head coaches.

Matt LaFleur, 46, is beginning his eighth season as Green Bay’s head coach, while Mike LaFLuer, 39, is in Year 1 with Arizona.

“It’s going to be a pretty cool experience,” Matt LaFleur said. “It’s not the first time but it’s certainly the first time as head coaches, so I talked to him last night just kinda trying to finalize the details and the plan for practice and look forward to seeing him.”

Matt LaFleur threw a few jabs at his younger brother Monday, saying that planning the schedule for Wednesday’s practice wasn’t the easiest of endeavors.

“He’s quick to criticize everything that I put on the schedule,” Matt LaFleur said. “So, he’s like, ‘Why are we doing this? Why are we doing that? We never do this.’ And I was like, ‘All right, Mike, you’ve got all the answers.’ Nah, it’s been healthy, it’s been good. There’s been give and take on both sides for sure.”

LaFleur’s parents, Denny and Kristi, are expected to be at the practice and Matt said: “They’ll probably look like a Christmas tree — green and red.”

And if fighting becomes an issue — as it has with various joint practices across the league — Matt LaFleur has a plan.

“If there’s an issue, I’m going to tell the guys, ‘Hey, you come tag me in. They can tag in my brother. And we’ll throw down on the 50,’ ” Matt LaFleur said.

BOUNCING BACK?: Cornerback Keisean Nixon, a 17-game starter last season who’s had a rough summer, had arguably his finest day of training camp. Nixon received all the work with the No. 1 defense, in part because Benjamin St-Juste (hamstring) was out, and shined.

Nixon intercepted Jordan Love on a fourth down play during 2-minute drills. Nixon also had an impressive PBU working against Jayden Reed on a deep ball from Love.

“Confident. Comfortable. Play ball,” Nixon said last week of how he’s feeling while battling for his job. “I’m not new to this. I’m true to this. I’ve been doing this for a while. So know how the game goes. Just play ball.

“It’s hard to keep me off the field. So when it’s time to play, I know what time it is.”

THIS AND THAT: Running back Josh Jacobs had one of the best runs of the summer, ripping off a long gain on an inside handoff. … Carrington Valentine, a starter in 2025 who’s dropped down the depth chart this summer, broke up a deep pass to Isaiah Neyor. … Defensive tackle Jonathan Ford continued his impressive summer by dropping MarShawn Lloyd for a loss. … Rookie kicker Trey Smack, who’s 7-of-7 on field goals in preseason games, drilled a 60-yard attempt to end a 2-minute drill. Smack went 3-for-4 on the day. … With Javon Bullard (foot) still sidelined, Kamal Hadden was the Packers’ starting nickel. … Safety Kitan Oladapo, who also received time at nickel, intercepted a Kyle McCord pass intended for Kaden Prather. … Rookie Jager Burton took some reps at center.

THE BAD

TOUGH LUCK: Defensive lineman Warren Brinson, a sixth round draft pick in 2025, has had an impressive summer. Brinson suffered a calf injury during pregame warm-ups in Denver, though, last Friday, and according to Matt LaFleur, “he’ll miss a little bit of time.”

Green Bay’s defensive line group is much deeper than a year ago, and the Packers will have some tough decisions with this group on cutdown day. Brinson seems a good bet to win a roster spot, unless his injury lingers and he heads to the PUP list.

FIGHT DAY: Wideout Matthew Golden and defensive end Barryn Sorrell — former teammates at Texas — got into a skirmish late in practice. The sidelines cleared and linebacker Zaire Franklin threw a punch.

Later, the sidelines again cleared after safety Trey Dean III took wideout Will Sheppard to the ground.

While fights are fun for spectators, coaches don’t like having their work time interrupted. So you can be sure LaFleur and his coaches won’t be happy after Monday’s shenanigans.

FROM THE INFIRMARY: Here’s how the Packers’ injury list looked Monday.

Not practicing: Warren Brinson (calf), safety Javon Bullard (foot), cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (hamstring), edge rushers Collin Oliver (calf) and Aaron Mosby, wide receiver Savion Williams (ankle), and tight end Thomas Yassmin (knee).

Reserve lists: edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee), tight end Luke Musgrave (neck), long snapper Matt Orzech (calf) and defensive tackle Jordon Reilly (Achilles).

THIS AND THAT: MarShawn Lloyd fumbled a handoff from Love and Barry Sorrell recovered. It was Lloyd’s first fumble of training camp. … With St-Juste sidelined, the No. 2 cornerbacks were Carrington Valentine and rookie Domani Jackson.

THE UGLY

BACK TO SCHOOL: College football is an unmitigated disaster right now, and the NFL folks are feeling the effects.

Recent court rulings and temporary restraining orders are allowing players in NFL training camps to return to college football for a fifth year of eligibility

Former Ole Miss tight end and undrafted NFL rookie Dae’Quan Wright was recently waived by Cleveland and reached an agreement to play for LSU if he clears waivers, setting a historic precedent.

In some NFL cities, players with little chance to make a 53-man roster could soon ask to be cut, with hopes of receiving substantial NIL payments by returning to college.

Matt LaFleur was asked if Green Bay had anyone that requested their release so they could head back to college.

“That’s a heck of a question,” LaFleur said. “That’s not something that I’ve put too much thought into. I think (general manager Brian Gutekunst) probably put more thought into that. But it’s kind of crazy to even think about.”

Crazy indeed!

From the NFL back to college?

Who would have ever guessed that — or wanted such madness?

CAMP REPORTS

• DAY 1

• DAY 2

• DAY 3

• DAY 4

• DAY 5

• DAY 6

• DAY 7

• DAY 8

• DAY 9

• DAY 10

• DAY 11

• DAY 12

• DAY 13

• DAY 14