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SportsMoney The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Packers’ 13th 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 18, 2026, 04:08pm EDT Aug 18, 2026, 09:15pm EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . The Green Bay Packers held practice No. 13 of training camp on a gorgeous, 78-degree Tuesday morning. The practice lasted 1 hour, 58 minutes.
The Packers will now have a closed practice Wednesday, then face Denver in their second preseason game Friday at 8 p.m. (CST).
Just two open practices remain: Aug 24, then a joint practice with Arizona on Aug. 26. Green Bay will then trim its roster to 53 on Aug. 30.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly — compiled from multiple reports — from practice No. 13.
LONGER LOOK: Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur said quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers’ starters would play at Denver on Friday.
Love played just one series last week, but LaFleur indicated it could be more this week.
“That’s the plan right now,” LaFleur said.
LaFleur referenced data recently that 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, and was routed in its preseason opener, 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 everything in life has risk and nothing readies you more for “real” football than actually playing in a football game.
“I’ve said it many times now,” LaFleur said of playing his frontliners. “I do think there’s a lot of value whether you’re getting ready to play one play or a complete football game to getting your mind right to go into battle.”
SIGHT FOR SORE EYES: Running back Josh Jacobs (groin) and edge Lukas Van Ness (shoulder) returned to practice.
Jacobs had been out nearly two weeks and missed Green Bay’s preseason opener at Pittsburgh. Van Ness missed Sunday’s practice after a healthy and productive summer.
On Tuesday, Van Ness beat Anthony Belton for a sack and stuffed running back MarShawn Lloyd for a loss.
“It was just a little something that I had irritated last and had it irritated again earlier this week,” Van Ness said of his shoulder injury. “Just working through it day to day but it was good to get back on the field again.
MORE GOOD NEWS: Guard Aaron Banks (knee), defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, cornerbacks Carrington Valentine (hamstring) and Domani Jackson (core muscle), and safety Murvin Kenion III all advanced from individual work to team drills.
Banks had been operating with a day on, day off schedule as he recovers from a knee injury and took part in team drills for the first time this summer.
“The whole thing has just been getting healthy enough to get out there and practice and get team reps,” Banks said. “Team reps lead to game reps, and just getting ready for Week 1 right now. Preseason is a preseason. Like, [you can] worry about that however much you see fit, but I just want to get to Week 1 and go out there and be ready to go.”
Hargrave, who the Packers signed to a two-year, $23 million free agent contract in March, also did team drills for the first time all summer. Hargrave with Green Bay’s No. 1 defense at times, and knocked rookie guard Jager Burton back during 1-on-1 drills.
“I’m just trying not to rush the process,” Hargrave said. “They set out a plan for me at the beginning of camp, and I was just being patient.”
Valentine left practice Aug. 2 with a hamstring injury, returned to individual drills last week, but didn't take part in team drills until Tuesday.
And Jackson worked with the No. 2 defense in team drills for the first time this summer.
“It's exactly how I dreamt it,” Jackson said. “It's been the longest wait of my life so far. Again, I'm happy to get back out there. I'm here to prove a point.”
GOLDEN CHILD: Packers second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden continued his sensational summer with a dominant day on Tuesday.
Golden caught seven passes during 11-on-11 drills, beating almost anyone and everyone the defense put across from him.
“For me, man, it’s just about being consistent each and every day and being where I need to be for Jordan (Love),” Golden said. “For today, the ball found me, but I was just doing what I was supposed to do, getting open, and Jordan was giving me some good balls to go out there and catch.”
KRAFT SHINES: Tight end Tucker Kraft, in just his second practice doing team drills, had one of the best catches of camp. Kraft made a one-handed grab over Keisean Nixon about 15 yards downfield, then kept rumbling for a 46-yard touchdown.
“That was crazy,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “It’s one of those balls, you know, I threw, and as I threw it, I seen Keisean kind of falling off. I was like, ‘Oh, I think I overthrew this one.’ That’s just a crazy, crazy catch by him, making a one-handed play. But that’s just some of the magic he brings to the field.”
THIS AND THAT: The Packers rotated cornerbacks Keisean Nixon and Benjamin St-Juste with the No. 1 defense throughout practice. During the 2-minute drill, though, it was St-Juste lined up opposite of starter Brandon Cisse. … Savion Williams made a terrific, 35-yard catch over Murvin Kenion III on a pass from Tyrod Taylor. … Keisean Nixon broke up a slant to Matthew Golden. … Linebacker Zaire Franklin had an interception after Edgerrin Cooper tipped a Jordan Love pass. … Cornerback Kamal Hadden got some work at nickel back with the No. 1 defense.
FROM THE INFIRMARY: Here’s how the Packers’ injury list looked Tuesday.
Not practicing: safety Javon Bullard (foot), e...
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