The first week of Green Bay Packers training camp is in the books, with only a likely pared-down practice to come before Jordan Love and company take to the Lambeau Field turf for Family Night on Friday.
Now is a good time to take stock of what we have learned in the early throes of camp. Here are 10 things that matter from the first week of practices:
Matthew Golden owning his new role
Golden has effectively taken over Romeo Doubs’ role as Green Bay’s X receiver in the offense as the former first-round pick enters year two, and so far he looks to have adapted to his increased role like a duck to water.
Doubs was a safety blanket for Love in ‘gotta have it’ situations, and Golden already seems to have picked up that baton, catching plenty of passes each day, most of them in the short-to-intermediate
area.
His 4.29 speed perhaps miscast him as a vertical receiver, but Golden’s crisp routes and sticky hands make him a natural fit as a chain-mover within the offense. That seems to be the role in which he will be most used in 2026.
“He’s very hungry since he got here… it's going to be his time to go out there and just make these plays on the field.”
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 4, 2026
Packers QB Jordan Love on 2nd year WR Matthew Golden@packers | @jordan3love | @heykayadams | @MatthewGolden_ pic.twitter.com/QyKZmcBwwF
Brandon Cisse impressing early
Green Bay’s top draft pick from this year, the second-round cornerback looks to have hit the ground running in his first training camp.
Cisse has already earned praise from head coach Matt LaFleur who said although there will be ups and downs, like with any young player, he is “mature beyond his years” and “everything you look for in a football player."
With Carrington Valentine nursing a hamstring injury, Cisse has been able to get early reps with the first-team defense, and locked up Savion Williams in three one-on-one reps on Tuesday. The Packers need someone in the corner room to step up, and the 21-year-old has started brightly.
Rookie CB Brandon Cisse in 1-on-1s today: pic.twitter.com/PbpSA0Z0Tu
— Kelly Hallinan (@kellyhals) August 4, 2026
Jordan Morgan has been quiet (complimentary)
Another former high draft pick, Morgan is finally getting his shot at left tackle in Year 3, and it has been rare to read his name on practice updates throughout the first week, which is probably a positive indicator for how he has fared.
Morgan was able to show off his ability on an island in one-on-ones, shutting out Lukas Van Ness on all three reps. The Packers will be hoping his steady play so far can translate into the rest of camp and then the regular season.
Jordan Morgan vs. Lukas Van Ness 1-on-1 today. pic.twitter.com/o2rf19fojV
— John Miller (@JohnMillerNBC26) August 4, 2026
Mixed early results for Trey Smack
Rookie kicker Smack has gone through some of the peaks and valleys one might expect. He is 8-13 on field goal attempts so far as he attempts to adjust to the wind in Green Bay, which he admitted has been a challenge.
Smack has not been helped by long snapper Matt Orzech being injured, which meant the team had to delay their first live kicking of training camp while they sourced a replacement in Cal Adomitis. Working with a new long snapper has undoubtedly added an extra layer of difficulty.
Anthony Campbell making a name for himself
Away from the expected starters, Campbell has flashed early on the defensive line, putting his 6-6 frame to good use by batting down four passes in the space of three practices.
A 2025 UDFA out of Miami, Campbell spent his rookie year on Seattle’s practice squad before signing with Green Bay back in January. Early on, he is making a case to stick on the roster.
Dani Dennis-Sutton flashing interior pass potential
Dennis-Sutton looked like a great value pick for the Packers in the 4th round and has already been displaying some of his potential, creating disruption as an interior pass rusher on obvious passing downs with the first-team defense.
New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has been creative with who he sends after the quarterback so far, and the 6-5, 256-pound edge rusher is benefitting by causing problems for Green Bay’s interior O-line.
Jonathan Gannon deploying three-safety looks
Compared to a weaker group of cornerbacks, safeties Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard are clearly Green Bay’s top defensive backs, and Gannon is committing to getting his best players on the field by keeping the trio on the field pretty much at all times.
That was also the case under Hafley, but it was slightly different as Bullard was mostly the designated slot corner, rather than playing back at safety. Gannon’s players seem to be enjoying the new scheme, particularly the safeties.
With their overlapping skillsets, the hope is this will create confusion for opposing offenses as they cannot get a tell on what the Packers plan to do post-snap. Perhaps this system will be their best tactic to stay out of base defense as much as possible, while still being able to defend the run.
Mostly positive injury news…
Many of the players who entered camp with injuries have returned to the practice field, with the likes of Zach Bako-Bewele (formerly Zach Tom), Aaron Banks, Devonte Wyatt and Tucker Kraft all participating in some capacity.
Elsewhere, Micah Parsons told reporters it is “realistic” for him to be back in time to face the Cowboys in Week 6 of the regular season.
…Except at tight end
The one position where the Packers have not had the best time with injuries to start camp is tight end. While Kraft is getting closer, he is not taking team reps yet, and Luke Musgrave is not practicing after suffering a neck injury during the offseason program.
LaFleur did not have a definitive timetable for Musgrave’s return, alluding to Musgrave’s symptoms needing to dissipate. It does not sound like he will be back imminently though.
The Packers also had to waive two tight ends injured in Luke Lachey and RJ Maryland. That means right now their top healthy tight ends are Josh Whyle, McCallan Castles, Drake Dabney, Drew Biber, Messiah Swinson and Thomas Yassmin.
MarShawn Lloyd is healthy
Whisper it… but MarShawn Lloyd has made it through the first week of training camp without picking up an injury. That may not sound like an achievement, but it is a crucial first step for a player who has been so snake bitten in his first two years.
Lloyd has continued flashing his explosive skill set, mostly with the second-team offense. Is this finally the year he can make an impact as a change-of-pace complement to Josh Jacobs?
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 10 takeaways from Packers training camp week 1: Golden owning new role
