Competition will drive Green Bays deep roster this summer
Wes Hodkiewicz
GREEN BAY The Packers are set to host the first practice of their 2025 training camp Wednesday morning at Nitschke Field.
Here are five key storylines as camp begins.
QuarterbackJordan Lovehas an embarrassment of offensive riches on his hands at wideout, with the addition ofMatthew GoldenandSavion Williamsin the 2025 NFL Draft making an already stacked Packers receiving corps even deeper.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay's leading receiver the past two years, is healthy once again after dislocating his shoulder in the NFC Wild Card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in January.
The offense also returns established veteransRomeo DoubsandDontayvion Wicksand key contributorsBo MeltonandMalik Heath.
WhileChristian Watsonis set to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, Head Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed during the offseason program that the fourth-year receiver is ahead of schedule in his recovery from the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in the regular-season finale against Chicago.
Watson was visible on the sideline throughout OTAs and minicamp, occasionally running sprints on the side during practice.
The Packers also added a three-time Super Bowl champion to the mix with the signing ofMecole Hardman, who brings return experience with him to Green Bay.
As a unit, the Packers' receiving corps is aiming to maximize the big plays it's become known for producing while reducing the drop issues that plagued Green Bay at times last season.
The Packers checked a major box off their 2025 to-do list when they extended right tackleZach Tomon the eve of camp.
The former fourth-round pick is one of only two offensive linemen in the NFL (Houston tackle Tytus Howard) to start 35-plus games from 2022-24 and not be penalized for holding (per TruMedia). Tom also was the only Packers player on the offensive side of the ball to start all 34 games the past two seasons.
Down the O-line, Green Bay signed left guardAaron Banksaway from San Francisco and has plans to move two-time Pro BowlerElgton Jenkinsto center, a position left vacant after Josh Myers' departure in free agency.
Jordan Morganis the wild card right now. The 2024 first-round pick had his rookie season derailed by a recurring shoulder issue but is now expected to compete withRasheed Walkerat left tackle andSean Rhyanat right guard.
Rhyan and 2024 fifth-round pickJacob Monkhandled a majority of the first-team reps at center while Jenkins was away from the team during the offseason program.
The Packers have three clear-cut options at both safety and cornerback. The only question is how Green Bay will deploy them.
Second-year safetiesEvan WilliamsandJavon Bullardare back to complement All-ProXavier McKinneywhileNate HobbsjoinsKeisean NixonandCarrington Valentineat cornerback.
The Packers wasted no time with their pursuit of Hobbs in unrestricted free agency. On top of his experience playing both inside and outside cornerback, Hobbs has been flagged for just 11 penalties through his first four NFL seasons.
Hobbs and Bullard both can play nickel corner. Nixon provides additional support there, as well, though he's slated to fill one of the perimeter starting spots.
After losing four corners in free agency, the Packers are looking for a prospect to emerge among former draft picks Kamal Hadden, Kalen King, Gregory Junior and rookie Micah Robinson.
The Packers had their best season against the run in 15 years in 2024 but seek to improve a pass rush that leaned heavily on simulated pressures and blitzes last season.
Green Bay lost nose tackle T.J. Slaton to free agency but otherwise returns the rest of the interior defensive line. Three-time Pro BowlerKenny Clarkalso looks to return to form after an early-season toe injury hampered him throughout last year.
On the edge, rookie draft picksBarryn SorrellandCollin Oliverwill compete withLukas Van Ness,Kingsley Enagbare,Brenton Cox Jr.andArron Mosbyfor playing time across fromRashan Gary, who's coming off his first Pro Bowl season in 2024.
Perhaps nobody benefitted more from the Packers trading Preston Smith to Pittsburgh last November than Cox, a healthy scratch through the first half of the season who had four sacks and seven quarterback hits in Green Bay's final seven games.
Van Ness, who turned 24 earlier this month, aims to follow Gary's footsteps as a former Packers first-round pick who found a breakout season in Year 3.
Adversity found Love early in the 2024 season when the 26-year-old quarterback suffered a knee injury in the opener against Philadelphia in Brazil.
The injury cost Love two starts and had lingering effects during the first two months of the season. A healthier Love turned things around during the second half, completing 64.3% of his passes for 1,308 yards with nine touchdowns and no interceptions in the final seven games of the regular season.
The campaign ended on a bitter note, though, with Love throwing three INTs in Green Bay's 22-10 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles in the playoffs.
