Inbox: Every rep serves a purpose – Packers.com

With all the talk of expectations for this upcoming season, I’m reminded of the coldest quote of all time from Wes. “Don’t know. Don’t care. In Green Bay, expectations aren’t derived from national narratives or TV talking points. It comes from the ‘G’ on the helmet. That’s the standard.”

Either I was hurting or feeling it that day. Maybe both?

Eric from Springfield, VA

My firstborn turned one month yesterday. I was fully detached from II for three weeks and have been dipping my toes back into the tribe. My hopes for the season, which mimic my view on fatherhood so far, are youth on the team is refreshing (and exhausting), growing pains are inevitable but worth it, just watch and enjoy the ride as it will be over too soon and, of course, memories make you rich. I can’t wait to take him back to GB to visit family and bring his bike to training camp.

You said it better than I ever could, Eric. You hit the nail on the toe when speaking about the growing pains involved with a young football team. I was part of Tucker Kraft‘s scrum on Thursday, as he was talking about the process of learning the playbook, going through walkthroughs, and applying that preparation to the practice field. There is a lot of thinking involved right now, but every rep serves a purpose. Enjoy your time with the newborn!

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

Heard anything on when the pads go on? Monday perhaps?

MONDAY! MONDAY! MONDAY! Per the CBA, teams are prohibited from putting on pads until after their fourth camp practice.

Stacy from Greenville, OH

With all the shakeup around the NFL and having Jordan Love as our starting QB now, how confident are the Packers in getting back to the top of the NFC North?

We’re still so far away from the regular season, but I would say it’s anyone’s division for the taking. Teams rise and fall every season, and the Packers feel like a team to me that’s climbing their way back up.

I got the biggest kick out of watching Caleb Jones pushing people around with those long arms during last year’s preseason. One would think his immense size could get him some action this season. Any idea what his chances are of making the 53?

Just when I think I couldn’t be any more impressed with Jones’ physical stature, I saw the second-year tackle reach his arms out while working field-goal protection units. Jones’ wingspan is ridiculous. He is a uniquely gifted athlete whom the Packers are working to mold into an NFL tackle. It’s a low-risk, high-reward development process.

Ross from Summerville, SC

Gents, De’Vondre Campbell seems to have a chip on his shoulder this year. Here’s hoping we see a return to the 2021 form he showed. This defense really heeds him to be steady.

I feel we’re going to see a very hungry and driven De’Vondre Campbell this year. ‘Dre has never been short on motivation, but his social-media posts suggest he’s ready to prove he is still one of the very best at his position. Campbell is still only 30 and extraordinarily athletic. So, my stance hasn’t changed since last year. I like the long-term potential of having Campbell and Quay Walker at the heart of this defense.

Visti from Farum, Denmark

All the excitement about the young Jordan Love being our starter, I’m not concerned about him playing. He’s been doing that pretty much always. But it has to be scary that we as fans expect him to lead the team in training camp for the next 15 years. I hope he embraces the grind.

Love absolutely does. He’s gone above and beyond to lead by example this summer. Again, I don’t know what will happen in Chicago or the 16 regular-season games that follow, but Jordan Love hasn’t stopped working since he got here. He’s put every minute to good use.

I know everyone is curious about Jordan Love, but how have Danny Etling, Sean Clifford, and Alex McGough looked? I expect a fierce battle for the backup position.

McGough has a live arm and is very much in this thing. He took No. 3 team reps ahead of Clifford on Thursday. These preseason games should be fun to watch, especially with only one final cut now at the end of training camp instead of multiple.

With just three practice sessions in the books, have we learned anything in the position battles at safety and right tackle?

We need to see Zach Tom and Yosh Nijman in pads before we become any wiser on the battle at right tackle, but Rudy Ford lined up next to Darnell Savage during the first two days of practice. On Friday, Jonathan Owens, Tarvarius Moore and Dallin Leavitt took some snaps with Savage but only after Ford started there.