The 2026 season is officially here for Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers. LaFleur's team opened training camp with a practice at Ray Nitschke Field on Wednesday morning. While the Packers are easing into the grind of training camp, especially with so many injuries to sort through early on, there was still plenty to learn from the first day on the practice field.
Recapping Day 1 of Packers training camp:
Injury updates
As always, the first practice of training camp means drinking injury updates from a firehose. Among the most significant, from Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur: Tucker Kraft is expected to practice "sooner rather than later," Micah Parsons is on track with his recovery but is not expected to practice during training camp, Luke Musgrave is dealing
with what could be a long-term neck injury, Keisean Nixon did not practice with a "hamstring" injury, Matt Orzech is out in the short term with a calf injury, and the Packers have no "long term concerns" over Javon Hargrave's knee injury. Guard Aaron Banks and defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse came off the PUP list and practiced in some capacity on Wednesday. One potential injury to monitor entering Thursday: rookie Jager Burton left practice midway and did not return to team drills. Per Matt Schneidman, Burton "felt something in his hamstring" and was held out the rest of the way.
Big things to know
-- Jordan Love used his legs to create a pair of touchdowns. He's athletic, but Love has always been a passer first and runner second. We'll see if Love is more willing to use his legs in 2026, or if he's simply emboldened as a runner with the protected red quarterback uniform on during a training camp practice.
-- The Packers are easing Aaron Banks and Zach Tom into 11-on-11 action, so Jacob Monk (at left guard) and Darian Kinnard (right tackle) got first-team reps on Wednesday. Getting Banks and Tom back into the lineup so the Packers can build continuity with the preferred starting five will be a camp priority eventually.
-- With Keisean Nixon sitting out, top draft pick Brandon Cisse got opportunities to line up with the first-team defenseat perimeter corner. Any and all reps against the starting offense will accelerate his development. The same goes for third-round pick Chris McClellin, who is getting extra snaps with Javon Hargrave out.
-- Keep an eye on Johnathan Baldwin this summer. He got reps as the No. 2 slot defender behind Javon Bullard. He fits the mold of the safety/slot the Packers like, making him an ideal candidate to become the new fifth safety on the 53.
-- Stash this one away: Sean Rhyan was the backup long snapper with Matt Orzech out with a calf injury. The hope will be that Rhyan is never needed in the role.
-- The first man up after edge rusher opposite Lukas Van Ness: Barryn Sorrell. A big opportunity exists for the second-year pass-rusher with Micah Parsons out.
-- Explosiveness from MarShawn Lloyd, who is healthy to start camp. Can he stay healthy? The potential for Lloyd as a playmaker remains enticing.
Brian Gutekunst/Matt LaFleur press conference
See the opening of "Dream Drive," and hear from both the Packers GM and coach to open training camp:
Highlight
Rookie cornerback Marlon Jones had an interception during a red zone drill, but we'll give the top highlight of the day to rookie quarterback Kyron Drones, who used his playmaking athleticism to find receiver Isaiah Neyor for a touchdown:
On third-and 8 from inside 20, third-string QB Kyron Drones scrambles right outside pocket and finds Isaiah Neyor in back end zone for touchdown. Everyone knows Drones his really impressive athleticism. Showed it on that rep.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 29, 2026
What's next
The Packers will be back on the field on Thursday morning for a 10:30 a.m. practice.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Recapping first practice of Green Bay Packers 2026 training camp
