The Packers have finished their second week of training camp and recently held their traditional Family Night. They are now preparing for the preseason this week, beginning with a joint scrimmage practice with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Packers are approaching the time when they will determine which players will be on the final 53-man roster for this season. This is a crucial period for players to showcase their skills and make an impact if they hope to secure a spot on the team.
Here is a list of players whose stock has risen or fallen during Packers training camp:
Packers Training Camp: Stock Up, Stock Down
Stock Down: Josh Myers
Josh Myers has been facing significant pressure as a Packer. He has to uphold the tradition of great Packer centers and replace Corey Linsley. Not to mention being chosen over one of the NFL’s best centers, Creed Humphrey, in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Myers has struggled in training camp, frequently mishandling snaps to Jordan Love due to mental errors. While he excels at pass blocking, his inconsistency when it comes to run blocking and just making too many mistakes has been a recurring issue. The Packers have started experimenting with Zach Tom, a second-year player who can also play center, and if Myers does not improve soon, he may risk losing his starting position.
Stock Up: Carrington Valentine
Rookie Carrington Valentine is impressing the coaching staff at Packers training camp so far. He is a talented corner from the University of Kentucky and has been making plays. He has even had the opportunity to practice with the starters, indicating his potential to be a standout player this year. Valentine has demonstrated his ability to play tight man coverage and has even faced off against Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, holding his own. If he continues to improve during training camp and preseason, he could play a significant role in his rookie year.
Stock Down: All Safeties
Currently, the Packers safety position is the biggest concern. No player has stood out and secured the starting role on the team. While Darnell Savage appears to be a likely choice, he has faced challenges during training camp. In fact, during Family Night, Luke Musgrave beat Savage on this rep:
Luke Musgrave had Darnell Savage hitting the GROUND 😳
Musgrave was reportedly on the field for every first team offensive snap at the Packers scrimmage last night.
Musgrave has also reportedly been one of the “fastest” players at Packers camp.
And he’s 6’6”, 253 pounds.
The… pic.twitter.com/ASIXteuy0n
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) August 6, 2023
Now, Darnell Savage responded with a good practice on Monday. Outside of Savage, it seems like a rotation at the other safety spot between Rudy Ford and Johnathan Owens. Safety was a huge problem last year, and the Packers hopefully have the position figured out before the season starts.
Stock Up: Devonte Wyatt & T.J. Slaton
According to reports from training camp, Devonte Wyatt and T.J. Slaton have been performing exceptionally well. They have been actively involved in training camp, stopping the run and getting that interior pressure. These two players will play a crucial role in the Packers’ defensive line this season, and they need to step up alongside Kenny Clark. Wyatt has shown more speed and confidence this year than he did as a rookie. Slaton has continued to impress, building on his promising performances from last year. If Wyatt and Slaton can continue to improve, the Packers will have a formidable defensive line this season.
Stock Down: Shemar Jean Charles
Shemar Jean Charles had a promising start, but it seems he hasn’t capitalized on it and is now falling down the depth chart. Since being drafted in 2021, he hasn’t shown enough to secure a role on the Packers’ defense. The Packers have Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, and Kisean Nixon already at cornerback, and Eric Stokes is set to return soon, which is making the competition steep. Carrington Valentine has also moved up the depth chart, and Innis Gaines is making plays. The cornerback room is starting to become very crowded. Unless Shemar Jean Charles impresses in the upcoming preseason games, he may not make the roster.
Stock Up: Jordan Love
The spotlight at training camp this year is on Jordan Love, who has made significant progress. He has improved his decision-making skills, and his mechanics are much better compared to the past two years. The quarterback coach, Tom Clemments, is similarly guiding Love as he did with Aaron Rodgers, the former Packers quarterback.
Although Love may face some challenges, he is learning from his mistakes and improving continuously. An instance of this was during family night, where he began slowly but ended on a high note. You can view all of his throws from that evening below:
All of Jordan Love's broadcast 11 on 11 throws from Family Night pic.twitter.com/1TRON7Wnxm
— The Big Ten's Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) August 7, 2023
As the night progressed, he got into a rhythm and delivered some impressive throws. One such throw, reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers, was made while a defender was in his face. While it would have been a sack, in all likelihood, the throw was simply outstanding. Here is the clip of the throw.
This Jordan Love throw is the new Zach Wilson throw 😭 pic.twitter.com/qm6gBctZGR
— Ethical Hoops🏆 (only takes Ws) (@EthicalHoopz) August 7, 2023
If Jordan Love can keep making improvements, then he could be in for a solid season in his first year as starting quarterback for the Packers.
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