RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Forbes — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 4 sources
SportsMoney The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Packers’ First Training Camp Practice By Rob Reischel ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Rob Reischel is a Wisconsin-based reporter who covers the NFL. Follow Author Jul 29, 2026, 07:00pm EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary The Green Bay Packers opened their 2026 training camp with a non-padded practice, revealing early insights. Tight end Tucker Kraft, recovering from an ACL injury, is expected back "very soon" after an All-Pro 2025 season, with contract discussions underway. Running back MarShawn Lloyd appears healthy and ready to contribute following two injury-plagued years, earning praise from QB Jordan Love. New linebacker Zaire Franklin made an immediate impact, forcing a fumble, while the offensive line shows promise with Aaron Banks returning. However, the team faces significant early injury concerns, with nine players on PUP/NFI lists, including Micah Parsons and Javon Hargrave, plus Keisean Nixon sidelined. The kicking competition was also delayed due to a long snapper injury. GM Brian Gutekunst noted the "ugly" reality of modern NFL training camps, which are significantly shorter and less intense due to CBA rules, limiting practice opportunities compared to past eras, though he emphasized the importance of team building.
The Green Bay Packers held their first training camp practice of 2026 on Wednesday, a non-padded workout that lasted roughly 80 minutes.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly from their first day back.
TUCKER KRAFT: The news continues to be positive for tight end Tucker Kraft, who suffered a torn right ACL on Nov. 2 against Carolina.
Kraft is on the PUP list, but said he believes he’ll be activated “very soon.”
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst echoed those sentiments.
“I anticipate … him being out there sooner rather than later,” Gutekunst said. “The more work he can get with Jordan in particular, even when he’s not ready for the team part of it, the more individual work he can get done with Jordan is going to be important for him as he heads into the season.
“We’ve had a lot of discussions about that, the timing with that. Obviously we want to be protective. But the way he looks, you’d think he’s ready to go.”
Kraft was in the middle of an All-Pro season in 2025 before his injury. Kraft started all eight games he played and posted 32 receptions, 489 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
He was the only tight end in the league with 30-plus receptions, 475-plus receiving yards, six-plus receiving touchdowns and an average of 15-plus yards per catch through Week 9. He also became just the fifth tight end since the 1970 merger to hit those marks in the first eight games of a season, joining Kellen Winslow (1980), Antonio Gates (2010), Jimmy Graham (2013) and Rob Gronkowski (2015).
Kraft led all NFL tight ends in yards per reception, yards after the catch (344), yards after the catch per game (43.0), yards after the catch per reception (10.8 avg.), was tied for No. 1 in explosive receptions (12) and ranked No. 2 in explosive-reception percentage (37.5) through Week 9.
Both Kraft and the Packers would like to get a long term contract done before the season starts.
“I think the best chance for Green Bay to win a Lombardi [Trophy] is with me on the field as well,” Kraft said. “That's people under the front office telling me that and the importance of us getting this deal done in a timely fashion. But ultimately, like I've said over and over again, I'm just so grateful to be a part of this organization and I would like to keep it that way.”
MAKING STRIDES: Oft-injured running back MarShawn Lloyd, who’s played just one game in his first two seasons, appears to be healthy and ready to contribute.
Lloyd spent much of his offseason with Dr. John Meyer of the Meyer Institute of Sport in El Segundo, Calif. Meyer and his staff determined Lloyd was overcompensating while training his lower body.
“He's the real deal,” Lloyd said of Meyer. “I had to do so (many) tests, and he's seen how I moved and where I was overcompensating, and he kind of got those places better where I need it. So focus on a lot of single leg stuff and get my quads right and getting my hamstrings right.”
Lloyd said when training camp began last season he was “uncertain” about his health.
“I mean, as far as like the strength of everything, yeah, my strength is a lot different,” Lloyd said. “A lot of single leg strength and just strong in all aspects from the hips, everything. So I do definitely feel a difference in the way my body feels.”
The Packers don’t have a proven No. 2 running back behind starter Josh Jacobs. And uncertainty still surrounds Jacobs after his arrest on May 26 for domestic disturbance.
So it seems like it’s now or never for Lloyd.
“Obviously we know MarShawn's gone through his fair share of things,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “To have him healthy, to have him out there is great.
“That's a guy we need to have out there, because I know he's going to be a special playmaker as somebody who can make those big explosive plays in the run game and the pass game.”
MAKING HIS MARK: Linebacker Zaire Franklin, acquired on an offseason trade for defensive tackle Colby Wooden, had an impactful day. The highlight came when MarShawn Lloyd made a reception and Franklin stripped the ball loose.
The only question was if it was a catch and a fumble, or an incompletion?
“First of all, the game is about the ball, so right, wrong or indifferent, you take the ball away, then you did your job for the day,” Franklin said. “So that felt good, but I love to practice. My favorite part of the game is practice. I'm (going to) make plays in practice.
“You make plays in practice, you make plays in the game. I just believe that, so me and Coach LaFleur even talked about it before today, like I couldn't wa...
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.