Blogs

Thursday’s practice in pads

The Packers put on pads for Thursday’s practice, the first time they’ve had pads on since last Thursday’s preseason finale against Kansas City.

With the CBA rules regarding the limitations on padded practices, the Packers generally will practice in pads only once per week. Last year, Mike McCarthy used Thursday for that, and it appears he’s sticking to the same plan in 2012.

RB James Starks and LB Jamari Lattimore were not practicing in the portion open to the media. S Sean Richardson was back at practice after sitting out on Monday and Wednesday. Also, CB Davon House was in pads and doing some drills, so he is taking another step forward in his recovery after returning to the practice field on a limited basis on Wednesday.

Raji not practicing Monday

With the regular season starting, practices are no longer fully open to reporters. Only the initial part of practice can be observed.

That being said, here’s what was observed in the portion of practice open to the media on Monday:

The players were not in pads. Those not practicing were DL B.J. Raji, S Sean Richardson, RB James Starks, LB Robert Francois, LB Jamari Lattimore and CB Davon House. Lattimore and House were doing some drills but did not have their helmets and were not part of the main practice. Raji injured his ankle on the first defensive play of the preseason game vs. Kansas City on Thursday.

TE Tom Crabtree was back at practice after sitting out the preseason finale last Thursday. The Packers were practicing with their full complement of tight ends for the first time in a while, aside from Andrew Quarless, who is on PUP. Also, practice-squad OL Andrew Datko, who had missed the last two weeks of training camp with a concussion, was back at practice.

A couple of players have been assigned new uniform numbers. DE Phillip Merling has changed from No. 69 to No. 94, while practice-squad OL Greg Van Roten has changed from No. 54 to No. 64. Merling’s No. 69 has gone to new practice-squad OL Chris Scott, while Van Roten had been sharing No. 54 in training camp with LB Dezman Moses.

Mike McCarthy is scheduled to speak to the media after practice, within a half hour or so.

Wednesday minicamp practice canceled

The Packers have canceled Wednesday’s minicamp practice.

Thursday’s final minicamp practice will go on as scheduled at 10:45 a.m., and will be open to the public. It was not originally scheduled as an open practice. The practice will take place at Ray Nitschke Field, weather permitting. Thursday will be the Packers’ last practice until the first workout of training camp on Thursday, July 26.

May 30 OTA practice notes

Despite a steady drizzle through the first half of practice, the Packers remained outside on Ray Nitschke Field for the entirety of Wednesday’s workout. Here are a few news & notes about what went on:

–Not practicing on Wednesday were RB Alex Green, CB Charles Woodson, S Charlie Peprah, FB John Kuhn, LB Frank Zombo, C Sampson Genus, DL Johnny Jones, G Jaymes Brooks, DE Phillip Merling, T Marshall Newhouse, DT Mike Daniels, T Derek Sherrod and TE Andrew Quarless.

–With Newhouse and Sherrod both out, Herb Taylor and rookie Andrew Datko shared snaps at left tackle with the No. 1 offensive line. On the No. 2 line, Datko played LT and Taylor was at RT, so both players got quite the workout.

–On defense, LB Clay Matthews did not take snaps in the team (11-on-11) drills, and he was replaced by LB Erik Walden on the right side. Rookie Nick Perry remained at LOLB with the first unit.

–P Tim Masthay was at his best in the pooch-punting portion of practice. Masthay dropped multiple punts perfectly inside the 5-yard line with his Aussie-style end-over-end boots.

–Like last week, the young DBs continued to make plays, as CB Davon House broke up a quick out to WR Diondre Borel and then moments later deflected a deep ball intended for WR Shaky Smithson. Later, House was outjumped by WR Curenski Gilleylen for a nice catch. Also, S Anthony Levine nearly had an INT on a sideline route for WR Tori Gurley, and CB Jarrett Bush almost had a pick-six on a quick out for WR James Jones. Bush also deflected a pass in the blitz period that was nearly picked off by CB Sam Shields.

–QB Graham Harrell did beat the blitz with a tightly threaded throw to TE Ryan Taylor down the seam, an impressive play that left S Jerron McMillian and Levine looking at one another in the defensive backfield.

–In the locker room after practice, LB A.J. Hawk spoke to reporters about his new haircut. Earlier this spring, Hawk had his long hair cut for charity, and he and his wife are partnering with Wigs for Kids in an effort called Hawk’s Locks for Kids, which will take donated hair to help make wigs for children who are cancer patients or burn victims. An event in Hawk’s home state of Ohio is planned for June.

“I think they said it takes six or eight people’s hair to make one wig for these kids, and with my ratty, terrible hair, they probably needed a bunch of extras in there,” Hawk said. “So I didn’t give them much, but I gave them what I had.”

Practice to be held indoors

Monday’s 7 p.m. practice originally scheduled for Ray Nitschke Field has been moved indoors. The team will now practice in the Don Hutson Center, which is closed to the public. Tuesday’s practice is scheduled for 7 p.m. and is open to the public.