Notes on Romeo Doubs, Edgerrin Cooper, injuries, one-on-ones and preseason playing time

Mike Spofford

GREEN BAY The Packers conducted their 11th open practice of training camp, in full pads, on Wednesday at Nitschke Field.

Here are five things learned from the workout:

On Wednesday, Doubs finished off a red-zone drive for the No. 1 offense with a TD catch from QBJordan Lovein the back of the end zone. A day earlier, he was hauling in a bomb from Love, and last week, he was making a back-shoulder circus catch along the sideline.

Plus there have been all sorts of plays in between.

The fourth-year receiver has been both steady and spectacular depending on the moment, and both Love and Head Coach Matt LaFleur spoke about his route-running as a major area of growth over his still-young career.

Love referenced how his knowledge of coverages helps him understand how to use his route to beat the defense. LaFleur mentioned his "patience" as a route runner.

It's all added up to Doubs standing out in one way or another on the practice field every day.

"He's had the right mindset," Love said. "He attacked the offseason the right way. We put a lot of work in in California. I just love where he's at mentally right now. He's playing pretty lights out."

It's not much of an exaggeration to say Cooper was everywhere on the practice field Wednesday shooting gaps on running plays, getting into the backfield to disrupt play-action, tipping passes at the line of scrimmage, and breaking up plays downfield.

His anticipation combined with his speed is a tough combination for offenses to deal with.

"The more he's able to dissect plays, it's hard for these O-line(men) on run plays to be able to get to him sometimes because he's so quick," Love said.

Over the last two practices, Cooper has worked alongsideQuay Walkerin 11-on-11 for the first time this summer, now that Walker is back from an offseason ankle procedure. Those two will be in the middle of all the defensive action after injuries to both last season limited them to just one start together the playoff game in Philadelphia.

Once he got going as a rookie second-round pick last year, Cooper became a playmaker, recording 13 tackles for loss, seven QB hits, 3 sacks, a forced fumble and two recoveries in just over 400 snaps. That might be just a snapshot of his abilities.

"I feel like the sky's the limit," Cooper said. "Now, I'm coming for it all. I feel like I have so much more left in my tank. Everybody's saying how I'm this and that. I think I got a lot more. I don't like to stay comfortable at all. I just want to attack it more."

Walker, the veteran left tackle, returned to practice after missing a few days due to a groin injury but was limited to individual drills, soJordan Morgancontinued to get the work at left tackle with the No. 1 unit.

Brinson, the defensive lineman and sixth-round pick from Georgia, appeared to suffer some type of upper arm injury in the midst of a running play in 11-on-11 and left the field with the athletic training staff.

There were so many intriguing matchups in the pass catcher/defender one-on-ones Doubs vs.Carrington Valentine,Matthew Goldenvs.Keisean Nixon,Jayden Reedvs.Kalen King,Mecole Hardmanvs.Javon Bullard, and the list goes on.

Many of them saw multiple reps, and whoever got beat the first time usually came back to win the next one. The best battle might've been Golden vs. Nixon, as Nixon broke up a pair of deep passes before, on the third rep, Golden fought him on an inside move for position underneath and muscled his way to the catch.

Also of note,Bo Meltonhad an interception going againstJulian Hicks, and then toward the end of practice in 11-on-11 red zone, Melton broke up a ball in the end zone intended forMalik Heath.

Love reiterated the message from the head coach has been to prepare to play Saturday, and decisions will be made known soon enough. Love admitted "it gets old" going against Green Bay's defense every day, so seeing another defense with different looks would be a nice change-of-pace.

"At the end of the day Matt has the final say," Love said. "Whatever he's kinda feeling for the offense, how many reps we're going to get, whether it's a drive, whether it's a quarter

"I think it's always nice to get a couple preseason snaps just to put yourself back in that game-mode mentality."