GREEN BAY — Before their day off Monday, the Packers donned their pads once again during a two-hour practice at Nitschke Field Sunday.
Here are five things we learned:
- Kalen King made the most of his first-team snaps.
Running with the No. 1 defense for probably the first time, King got his first interception of training camp against Jordan Love.
Lined up in the slot, the rookie seventh-round pick stepped in front of a third-and-four pass intended for receiver Christian Watson and headed downfield for a potential pick-six.
King, who has played both outside cornerback and nickel cornerback, didn’t remember if Sunday was the first time he got snaps with the No. 1 defense, but it was certainly among the “firsts.”
“It was a Cover-2 call … and I’m really working on my cue point and just reading Jordan,” King said. “Wherever his eyes are going, that’s where I’m going. I felt a quick play, so as soon as I saw him take his hand off the ball, I just snapped, and I was there to make a play.”
The play gave a confidence boost to King, who used that momentum to quickly trigger two more pass breakups, including a near-INT on the third-down drive’s two-minute series late in the drive.
This is the two-time All-Big Ten’s first time playing in the slot, but King feels he’s improving thanks in part to backup Keisean Nixon. Whether he’s lined up inside or out, King knows one big play can go a long way in a deep, talented defense.
“It gives me confidence,” King said. “Just coming in every day, competing with the guys, competing with the veterans on the team and making plays against them gives me the confidence to keep going, keep my head down and keep working.”
- Evan Williams celebrated his birthday with a major INT.
The Packers’ rookie safety ended the two-minute run No. 2 after just one play when he intercepted Sean Clifford on a pass thrown late over the middle.
It’s Williams’ third interception in the first week of training camp, though the fact that it came on his 23rd birthday makes it the sweetest so far.
“They say pick-a-day takes away the bad feelings,” Williams joked. “It’s a good stretch. I think our entire defense probably has 10-plus interceptions, probably around 15, in the first week of camp. And that’s definitely something to be proud of.”
The Packers’ safety room has had a great start to the summer, as the defense looks to identify a starter opposite veteran safety Xavier McKinney.
Second-round pick Javon Bullard had a potential pick-six over Jacob Eason on Saturday, while second-year safety Anthony Johnson Jr. had back-to-back picks earlier this week.
As with King’s interception, Williams was sitting back in zone coverage when the ball spiraled toward him.
“Honestly, I was just reading the quarterback,” Williams said. “I felt the combo routes coming away from me and I knew there was probably something coming from the back, I got an attack from the back and I was able to jump on it.”
Cornerback Carrington Valentine also had an INT early in the drive against Clifford after pressure from Lukas Van Ness.
- Jordan Morgan held his own at right guard on the first day of 1-on-1s.
The first-round rookie passed a big test at his new position, holding off defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt for multiple consecutive reps in one-on-one rush drills between the offensive and defensive lines.
Morgan was a four-year starter at left tackle for Arizona State but has worked hard at guard since the start of training camp in an effort to find a starting five on the O-line.
“He’s been mostly inside,” head coach Matt LaFleur said. “Certainly in OTAs we’ve put him at tackle a lot, but I think he’s starting to get more and more comfortable inside. But I think he’s got enough talent if need be, that if we have to put him outside, we can do that.”
Sophomore defensive linemen Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks got good reps against Luke Tenuta and Royce Newman, respectively, while freshman offensive lineman Kadeem Telfort got to test himself against top pass rusher Rashan Gary.
- Everyone, including the referees, is starting to understand the new kick-off system.
Referee Clete Blakeman and his crew were in town this weekend to officiate both practices. In addition to the on-field work, Blakeman said he had the opportunity to discuss the new kickoff play with LaFleur and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia.
There are still many unknowns about how the modified kickoff will be implemented in games, but Blakeman and LaFleur both said communication has been good between league officials and NFL clubs.
The Packers will also have three preseason games to work on the mechanics of the new play, which will see 10 cover players line up at the opponent’s 40-yard line and unable to run until the kick returner catches the ball in the touchdown zone between the goal line and 20.
“It’s great to have the officials here. I think they’re learning, too,” LaFleur said Sunday morning. “We have a lot of questions and there’s not a lot of answers yet.”
“The joint training sessions will certainly help clarify a lot of things. I hope that by the first week we will have all the answers we need.”
- Josh Myers returns, Elgton Jenkins gets a day off and the kickers kick off.
Starting center Josh Myers returned to practice after missing the previous two days with a personal issue. Jenkins, who has been struggling in Myers’ absence, had a day off after practicing two days in a row.
Defenseman Zayne Anderson (knee) and defensive linemen Deslin Alexandre (lower leg contusion) and Keshawn Banks (groin) were the only new injuries.
Meanwhile, Green Bay’s kicking competition continued with Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph alternating kicks. Both made 5 of 6 shots, with Carlson missing the right field goal from the 51st and Joseph missing the right field goal from the 53rd.