Packers getting physical in camp

Packers Camp Buzz Begins

The bikes lined up outside Lambeau Field once again. Players made dreams come true just by simply making their way to and from practice and being visible for those kids to see up close and in person. Many older Packer fans are excited to see our favorite team get back to work as we look forward to cheering them on each week until hopefully February. But for many of these kids, camp is a memory that will last them a lifetime. That's what makes Packers Training Camp so special. Many of them won't get to a game this season, so this is it. And the Packers do it like no other.

We've been to Training Camp practices for the last decade and a half, and you can always feel the excitement around you. To someone who doesn't understand, they may sit in the bleachers of Ray Nitschke Field and think it's silly that fans are applauding and hollering for catches by receivers just running individual routes. Outside of fans just being passionate, this could be the only time some of those fans will see that in person this season, so they want the players to hear their support. And judging by the mix of players getting the crowd riled up during practice, they want to hear it from them, too.

Be sure to take a look at our stand-outs from Training Camp week 1 and a few things to discuss, so let's get into it.

Packers Camp Practice Instant Reactions

CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler gives some quick thoughts and observations from the latest training camp practice in Green Bay with notes on Ty'Ron Hopper, Matthew Golden, Aaron Banks, Rasheed Walker and a very pissed off Matt LaFleur.

McManus Is A Cornerstone

The Packers brought in Brandon McManus on Oct. 16th, 2024 and released Brayden Narveson because the kicking position was such a mess. McManus proved many doubters wrong by making 20 of 21 field goal attempts and nailing all 30 extra points. That behooved the Packers to give him a three-year, $15.3 million deal on March 4, 2025. McManus, 34, is one of the cornerstone pieces as we enter the 2025 season.

Now, we know you’re reading and going, “How can a kicker be a cornerstone piece?”

Well, he’s been perfect so far in training camp, including a smattering of 50-yard field goals. Whenever the Packers get within 55 yards, opponents have to be concerned because they are on the doorstep of giving up points.

That’s a weapon in our book and a cornerstone of the 2025 team.

What To Expect From Edgerrin Cooper In Year 2

CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler and Tyler Brooke from the Best Available YouTube channel discuss their projections for second year Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.

Advanced Stats for Packers Fans 101: Success Rate & PFF Scores

The long wait is finally over: the Packers are back in Green Bay and they’ll be playing football until (hopefully) February. As the team begins to form its identity, build chemistry, and build towards that pivotal matchup with the Detroit Lions on September 7th, there’s not much for us fans to do. Sure, we can (and do) stay glued to the internet for every scrap of news tweeted out by those in attendance, but again, there’s not much that we can do with those scraps. Pads come on only this week, and joint practices / preseason games can only do so much to scratch the itch of real football.

Instead, what we’ll be doing for the next several weeks is preparing for the season by helping you all become more familiar with an increasingly large part of the game of football: advanced stats. From EPA, to DVOA, to Pro Football Focus and everything in between, these names have become such a large part of the game that it’s no longer a surprise to hear them cited by GMs and head coaches as a not insignificant part of NFL gameplanning.

We’re not looking to provide a case for why advanced statistical metrics should be the end all, be all of evaluating football, because they shouldn’t be. These tools are just that: tools. I leave it to the individual to determine exactly how much stock to put into these ideas, and how much to leave up to the good ol’ eye test. Over the next few weeks we’ll be exploring the idea behind, and the efficacy of, some of the most popular of these stats, how to find them, and how they relate to the Green Bay Packers. First up, we go over two concepts: the easiest to understand is Success Rate, and perhaps the most controversial: the PFF grading system.

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Elgton Jenkins off of NFI, practicing on a limited basis

Veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins came off the non-football injury list earlier this week and began practicing on a limited basis.

Jenkins is making the transition from left guard to center for the Packers this year. Not that he doesn't have experience at the position. Jenkins has 369 career snaps at center, with 297 of them coming during the 2020 season. He has started four games at the position, totaling 255 snaps as a true center. In that span, he allowed just two pressures and didn’t give up a single sack. He also started one game at center in 2024, during Week 9 against the Detroit Lions. In that outing, he posted a perfect pass-blocking efficiency score, although he did struggle with snapping the ball in a couple of plays in the rain. Jenkins was also a center at Wake Forrest.

All that said, the sooner Jenkins is able to work with his fellow starters full time during padded work, the better. As of Tuesday’s practice, he has started to work in team drills on a limited basis. Expect to see him get a heavier workload as camp continues.

Packers With Something Extra on the Line in 2025

Aside from the team goal of winning a championship, players all have their own personal motivations for a season, and the Packers are no different. There are a host of players who are playing for more than just wins and losses in 2025, falling in two different categories; high priced veterans and contract year players.

In terms of the first bucket, this season is an important one for Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary and Elgton Jenkins, who are slated to have three of the biggest cap hits on the team in 2026, set to count $31million, $28million and $24.8million against the cap next year respectively.

The next batch of players with something personal to play for are the ones who are in the final year of their rookie contracts, specifically Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson.

Dive into what each of these players are looking to achieve in 2025.

Van Ness Making Noise at Camp

There's a lot of hype around the new players on the roster in training camp so far. Matthew Golden continues to dazzle, Nate Hobbs looks like he will be a relentless beast, and Isaiah Simmons is showing signs that he could be a factor in the defense this year as well.

All of this has sort of overshadowed Lukas Van Ness' camp so far. 1 on 1 drills are all about practicing technique and just trying to beat the guy in front of you. For years, these drills have been home to some of the biggest competitions in training camp between the offensive and defensive lines. Shades of David Bakhtiari facing off against Mike Daniels and the trash talk that would follow come to mind.

So far this year, the offensive line has yet to have a day where they get the best of Lukas Van Ness. It's not just drills either. During 11 on 11's, there have been comments that every other time Jordan Love drops back to pass, Lukas Van Ness is getting some kind of pressure on him.

Van Ness needs to not just perform in the first week of camp, though; he needs to put it together until hopefully February. But a good camp is a start. We're hoping for a year 3 emergence.