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SportsMoney The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Packers’ 11th 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 Aug 11, 2026, 02:26pm EDT Aug 11, 2026, 04:54pm EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary The Green Bay Packers concluded their 11th training camp practice, now preparing for their first preseason game Thursday against the Steelers, where starters including Jordan Love will play. Coach Matt LaFleur emphasized the value of preseason snaps for early-season performance and injury prevention. LaFleur also made headlines, calling Love the best quarterback he's coached for pre-snap adjustments, even over Aaron Rodgers, praising Love's command. Kicker Trey Smack improved to 71.4% in camp, while several injured players returned. However, the offense struggled against the defense, a recurring issue, with an unsettled offensive line and key injuries like RB Josh Jacobs. LaFleur's challenge flag record remains poor, with a 27.8% success rate since 2023, yet he plans to retain the duty.
The Green Bay Packers held their 11th training camp Tuesday on a gorgeous, 77-degree morning. The practice lasted 1 hour, 32 minutes.
Green Bay now heads to Pittsburgh for its first preseason game of 2026 on Thursday at 6 p.m. (CST). The Packers will meet former coach Mike McCarthy and ex-quarterback Aaron Rodgers — a pair that led the franchise to a win in Super Bowl XLV.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly — compiled from multiple reports — from practice No. 11.
PLAY ON: Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur said quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers’ starters would play at Pittsburgh Thursday.
LaFleur, now in his eighth season, has handled the risk-reward element of playing starters in preseason games both ways. On Monday, though, LaFleur said, “I think just my experiences here is that when we've played in the preseason, we've been better earlier in the season.”
LaFleur also noted that data shows when players get at least 30 snaps in the preseason, they’re less likely to be injured once the regular season begins.
Green Bay, which ended last season on a five-game losing streak, can’t afford a slow start. The Packers face just one playoff team from 2025 in their first seven games, and need to take full advantage of their soft early season schedule.
Critics will scream there’s too much risk playing your frontliners in August games. But there’s also risk walking down the street or driving to work every day.
Nothing toughens you up and readies you more for the regular season than playing your people. LaFleur clearly feels the same.
“I do think there's a lot of value for all our guys to just get mentally prepared to go play a game, whether it's one play, whether it's three plays, 10 plays, the whole game, I think there's a ton of value in that,” LaFleur said. “Just getting your process down.”
LOVE > RODGERS: LaFleur made headlines Monday telling the NFL Network that Jordan Love was the best quarterback he’s worked with when it comes to pre-snap, line protection calls and adjustments.
Considering LaFleur coached Aaron Rodgers from 2019-2022, that’s a bold statement.
“I mean, (Love) is so in tune with everything we're doing, and shoot, it happened today, where he's in there, and we're talking about different looks about what you could do,” LaFleur said. “And he said something that I hadn't thought of, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s pretty good.’
“So I think he's … really grown in that facet, and he can he has complete command at the line of scrimmage, and then he just, he trusts everything that we talk about in that room, and he goes out there and executes it.”
“Aaron was phenomenal too. Don't get me wrong, and I think Jordan really benefited from watching him and how he operated and how quickly he could process things. But I do think our offense has evolved over time too. So that's all I'm going to say about that.” MINOR STRIDES: Rookie kicker Trey Smack went 4-of-5 on field goals and is now 20-of-28 in training camp (71.4%). Smack’s effort on Tuesday took his average above 70.0% for the first time this summer.
Smack made kicks from 33, 41, 43 and 45 yards, and was also wide right from 45. Smack’s 41-yarder bounced off the right upright and through.
WELCOME BACK: Wide receivers Matthew Golden (toe) and Jayden Reed (foot) returned to practice, as did tight end Josh Whyle (neck) and cornerback Carrington Valentine (hamstring).
Reed, Golden and Whyle all did team drills, while Valentine worked in the rehab group.
COMINGS AND GOINGS: Green Bay added defensive backs Trey Dean (35) and Tra Fluellen (48) to the roster and released tight end Drew Biber and guard Karsen Barnhart.
THIS AND THAT: Love hit Skyy Moore with an impressive deep ball that went for a big gain. … Ty’Ron Hopper forced a fumble from running back Jaden Nixon. … Edge Lukas Van Ness beat Zach Bako-Bewele, forcing Love to step into a sack from safety Kitan Oladapo.
OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES: Green Bay’s defense got the better of the offense, which has been a consistent theme throughout camp.
Love and the offense couldn’t get much going until they faced the No. 2 defense late in practice.
While that’s good news for the defense, the Packers’ struggles on offense should be concerning. Green Bay’s offensive line is unsettled, running back Josh Jacobs is out with a groin injury and there’s little depth at tight end or wide receiver.
“Obviously, they’re talented, we’re talented,” Green Bay linebacker Zaire Franklin said. "So, I feel like when we able to execute and run the scheme the right way, we can play with anybody.
“So, obviously, iron sharpens iron. We’re sharpening them boys. They won’t play against people that ain’t as good as us and they’re going to run them out the building. So, that’s how that works.”
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