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Other injury notes
Coach Mike McCarthy on: DT Justin Harrell (biceps): "Justin really hasn't changed. ... We've been doing some individual work with him at the end of practice, with some of the other, younger offensive linemen, just to keep him up to speed on the techniques and the fundamentals so he's not missing out. We're just reluctant to put him into team drills right now." S Marviel Underwood (knee): "He's ahead of schedule (with rehabilitation). We'll probably wait until training camp (because of) the extent of the injury that he did have." T Chad Clifton (elbow): "It looked like it was in the 2-minute drill, but it looked like he caught his elbow. I think it was Kabeer (Gbaja-Biamila) who was rushing on him." CB Will Blackmon (undisclosed): "It's not serious. It's kind of been bothering him all week. I don't recall (what the injury is). He fatigued it on Tuesday and it started bothering him again today." G Tony Palmer (knee): "He's not ready to come back. He's still finishing the rehab on that injury."
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Passing stats
Today's installment of mostly meaningless passing stats is a little different because of the extended 2-minute drill early in practice. For that reason, we'll break things down this way: 2-minute ... Team and 7-on-7 ... Total. One stat that needs to be stated separately is that Brett Favre was 10-for-10 in the 7-on-7 period, much of which was conducted in the red zone. There is no rush in 7-on-7, of course, but Favre had little trouble picking apart what qualified as the first-team defense.
This also was the first open practice this spring in which there were no interceptions.
-- Favre 14-for-18 ... 6-for-10 ... 20-for-28
-- Ingle Martin 4-for-8 ... 4-for-7 ... 8-for-15
-- Jerry Babb 2-for-2 ... 0-for-0 ... 2-for-2
-- Paul Thompson 2-for-3 ... 0-for-0 ... 2-for-3
Martin ran the second unit during the 2-minute period, but he, Babb and Thompson rotated throughout the other periods. The team periods were rather run-heavy, and with a number of players absent or hurt, it often was tough to distinguish between the second and third teams.
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The blitz: OTAs Week 2
The Packers worked extensively on their hurry-up and red-zone offenses today, but neither offensive unit finished the 2-minute drill as coaches wanted. The first team ran nine plays to get to the 12-yard line. But after a short completion from Brett Favre to Vernand Morency on third-and-inches, there was confusion as the offense looked to spike the ball before the field-goal unit ran onto the field. Coach Mike McCarthy booted the ball out of the holder's hands and yelled at the sideline, and the offense came back onto the field. Running another play from the 8, Favre scrambled and overthrew tight end Donald Lee. McCarthy blamed a clock malfunction. The scoreboard turned off several times and had no time on it during the final plays. "The people on the field were on the same page, but the people on the sideline weren't," McCarthy said. The second-team offense started at its own 35 and stalled at the plus-37. Ingle Martin, running the unit in Aaron Rodgers' absence, overthrew David Clowney with a deep ball on third down and then threw into double coverage on fourth.
In other news ...
Second-year pro Tony Moll filled in for the absent Mark Tauscher (death in family) at right tackle with the first-team offense. Moll knocked down Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila during the 2-minute period, and Gbaja-Biamila left the field rubbing his lower back. When Chad Clifton departed with an apparent elbow injury, first-year man Orrin Thompson took over at left tackle. Lee continued to take the first snap in each series at tight end. Working with the second team during 7-on-7, he dropped a throw that was a little high from Martin, whose next pass went off the hands of Ruvell Martin. Brandon Miree took the first rep in each team period when the offense played its base set. Cornerback Patrick Dendy worked opposite Al Harris with the first-team defense. When the nickel defense took the field for the 2-minute periods, the line consisted of Gbaja-Biamila, Michael Montgomery, Colin Cole and Cullen Jenkins.
Offensive highlights were tough to come by, but Favre threw a perfect touch pass to tight end Zac Alcorn in the 7-on-7 period, splitting Patrick Dendy and Nick Collins near the end zone. Minutes later, Martin threaded a pretty ball to a diving Carlyle Holiday at the goal line. Rookie linebacker Desmond Bishop, a sixth-round pick out of California, slapped a sure completion out of Calvin Russell's hands during 7-on-7. Ingle Martin took the accidental hit of the day when Devarick Scandrett couldn't slow down fast enough to avoid contact in the first team period. With Charles Woodson absent and Will Blackmon and Greg Jennings hurt, first-year cornerback Tramon Williams worked alongside Shaun Bodiford and rookie James Jones on punt returns. Bodiford took the first reps.
After moving practice indoors because of wind and the threat of rain, the Packers allowed about 30 fans to watch a half-hour of practice inside the Don Hutson Center. There was one brief scrum early in practice. Scandrett knocked off guard Tyson Walter's helmet before teammates separated them. The offense closed the final team period with three consecutive fades into the end zone. None were complete, and each defended well by Frank Walker, Dendy and Jarrett Bush, respectively. Practice ended with Favre completing a pair of touchdown strikes to Clowney and Bodiford.
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The laces were in!
Dave Rayner's battle to win media favor (if not the starting job) in his competition with rookie Mason Crosby got off to a rocky start today when Rayner missed his only two field-goal attempts in a brief, situational special-teams period. Kicking from 46 yards out, Rayner pushed his first attempt wide right and then pulled the second wide left. Neither missed by much. In between, Crosby converted his only attempt from the same distance, skimming the ball high off the inside of the right upright. After practice, Rayner said he wasn't concerned about the misses because he won't be in kicking shape until training camp. It was the first time Rayner and Crosby had kicked in front of reporters since the Packers drafted Crosby out of Colorado in the sixth round.
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Jackson has mild knee injury
Running back Brandon Jackson and receiver Greg Jennings joined cornerback Will Blackmon as notable players who sat out today's open OTA practice. Jackson, the Packers' second-round draft pick out of Nebraska, suffered a mild knee injury early this week, but the team hopes he'll practice next week, coach Mike McCarthy said. Blackmon also has a mild injury, according to McCarthy, who did not address Jennings' injury. Jennings rode a stationary bike for most of practice and did have anything visibly wrong with him. Tackle Chad Clifton appeared to hurt his elbow during a team period late in practice and did not return. The rest of today's inactive list contained the usual suspects: safety Marviel Underwood, linebacker Abdul Hodge, receivers Robert Ferguson and Chris Francies, defensive tackle Justin Harrell, guard Tony Palmer, tackle Kevin Barry, running back Arliss Beach and defensive tackle Kevin Barry. Running back DeShawn Wynn, who suffered a calf injury in the first practice of last month's rookie minicamp, participated and took some reps with the first-team offense in Jackson's absence. Several players who missed the Packers' only open OTA practice last week -- including cornerback Al Harris, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett and guard Junius Coston -- attended and participated in all drills. Cornerback Antonio Malone, who landed on injured reserve when NFL Europe rosters were set in April, also practiced. He wore No. 46.
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Practice over for today
Today's Packers practice is officially over. Tackle Mark Tauscher missed practice because of a death in his family and QB Aaron Rodgers missed practice to attend his brother's graduation.
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QB Rodgers, T Tauscher not at practice today
Starting tackle Mark Tauscher and backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers are the most notable absences from today's practice. Defensive tackle Corey Williams, who was with his ailing sister last week, and cornerback Charles Woodson also are not at the practice. Woodson is not expected to attend any of the OTA practices. Cornerback Will Blackmon is at the practice, but is not participating. Coach Mike is expected to address the media when practice ends around 1:15 p.m.
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OTA practice moved inside
Today's organized team activities practice has been moved indoors to the Don Hutson Center because of wind and the threat of rain. It was scheduled to be one of only four OTA practices open to the public. Dozens of fans had been waiting for to watch the practice.
P.S. Awaiting PICS
Other injury notes
Coach Mike McCarthy on: DT Justin Harrell (biceps): "Justin really hasn't changed. ... We've been doing some individual work with him at the end of practice, with some of the other, younger offensive linemen, just to keep him up to speed on the techniques and the fundamentals so he's not missing out. We're just reluctant to put him into team drills right now." S Marviel Underwood (knee): "He's ahead of schedule (with rehabilitation). We'll probably wait until training camp (because of) the extent of the injury that he did have." T Chad Clifton (elbow): "It looked like it was in the 2-minute drill, but it looked like he caught his elbow. I think it was Kabeer (Gbaja-Biamila) who was rushing on him." CB Will Blackmon (undisclosed): "It's not serious. It's kind of been bothering him all week. I don't recall (what the injury is). He fatigued it on Tuesday and it started bothering him again today." G Tony Palmer (knee): "He's not ready to come back. He's still finishing the rehab on that injury."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passing stats
Today's installment of mostly meaningless passing stats is a little different because of the extended 2-minute drill early in practice. For that reason, we'll break things down this way: 2-minute ... Team and 7-on-7 ... Total. One stat that needs to be stated separately is that Brett Favre was 10-for-10 in the 7-on-7 period, much of which was conducted in the red zone. There is no rush in 7-on-7, of course, but Favre had little trouble picking apart what qualified as the first-team defense.
This also was the first open practice this spring in which there were no interceptions.
-- Favre 14-for-18 ... 6-for-10 ... 20-for-28
-- Ingle Martin 4-for-8 ... 4-for-7 ... 8-for-15
-- Jerry Babb 2-for-2 ... 0-for-0 ... 2-for-2
-- Paul Thompson 2-for-3 ... 0-for-0 ... 2-for-3
Martin ran the second unit during the 2-minute period, but he, Babb and Thompson rotated throughout the other periods. The team periods were rather run-heavy, and with a number of players absent or hurt, it often was tough to distinguish between the second and third teams.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The blitz: OTAs Week 2
The Packers worked extensively on their hurry-up and red-zone offenses today, but neither offensive unit finished the 2-minute drill as coaches wanted. The first team ran nine plays to get to the 12-yard line. But after a short completion from Brett Favre to Vernand Morency on third-and-inches, there was confusion as the offense looked to spike the ball before the field-goal unit ran onto the field. Coach Mike McCarthy booted the ball out of the holder's hands and yelled at the sideline, and the offense came back onto the field. Running another play from the 8, Favre scrambled and overthrew tight end Donald Lee. McCarthy blamed a clock malfunction. The scoreboard turned off several times and had no time on it during the final plays. "The people on the field were on the same page, but the people on the sideline weren't," McCarthy said. The second-team offense started at its own 35 and stalled at the plus-37. Ingle Martin, running the unit in Aaron Rodgers' absence, overthrew David Clowney with a deep ball on third down and then threw into double coverage on fourth.
In other news ...
Second-year pro Tony Moll filled in for the absent Mark Tauscher (death in family) at right tackle with the first-team offense. Moll knocked down Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila during the 2-minute period, and Gbaja-Biamila left the field rubbing his lower back. When Chad Clifton departed with an apparent elbow injury, first-year man Orrin Thompson took over at left tackle. Lee continued to take the first snap in each series at tight end. Working with the second team during 7-on-7, he dropped a throw that was a little high from Martin, whose next pass went off the hands of Ruvell Martin. Brandon Miree took the first rep in each team period when the offense played its base set. Cornerback Patrick Dendy worked opposite Al Harris with the first-team defense. When the nickel defense took the field for the 2-minute periods, the line consisted of Gbaja-Biamila, Michael Montgomery, Colin Cole and Cullen Jenkins.
Offensive highlights were tough to come by, but Favre threw a perfect touch pass to tight end Zac Alcorn in the 7-on-7 period, splitting Patrick Dendy and Nick Collins near the end zone. Minutes later, Martin threaded a pretty ball to a diving Carlyle Holiday at the goal line. Rookie linebacker Desmond Bishop, a sixth-round pick out of California, slapped a sure completion out of Calvin Russell's hands during 7-on-7. Ingle Martin took the accidental hit of the day when Devarick Scandrett couldn't slow down fast enough to avoid contact in the first team period. With Charles Woodson absent and Will Blackmon and Greg Jennings hurt, first-year cornerback Tramon Williams worked alongside Shaun Bodiford and rookie James Jones on punt returns. Bodiford took the first reps.
After moving practice indoors because of wind and the threat of rain, the Packers allowed about 30 fans to watch a half-hour of practice inside the Don Hutson Center. There was one brief scrum early in practice. Scandrett knocked off guard Tyson Walter's helmet before teammates separated them. The offense closed the final team period with three consecutive fades into the end zone. None were complete, and each defended well by Frank Walker, Dendy and Jarrett Bush, respectively. Practice ended with Favre completing a pair of touchdown strikes to Clowney and Bodiford.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The laces were in!
Dave Rayner's battle to win media favor (if not the starting job) in his competition with rookie Mason Crosby got off to a rocky start today when Rayner missed his only two field-goal attempts in a brief, situational special-teams period. Kicking from 46 yards out, Rayner pushed his first attempt wide right and then pulled the second wide left. Neither missed by much. In between, Crosby converted his only attempt from the same distance, skimming the ball high off the inside of the right upright. After practice, Rayner said he wasn't concerned about the misses because he won't be in kicking shape until training camp. It was the first time Rayner and Crosby had kicked in front of reporters since the Packers drafted Crosby out of Colorado in the sixth round.
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Jackson has mild knee injury
Running back Brandon Jackson and receiver Greg Jennings joined cornerback Will Blackmon as notable players who sat out today's open OTA practice. Jackson, the Packers' second-round draft pick out of Nebraska, suffered a mild knee injury early this week, but the team hopes he'll practice next week, coach Mike McCarthy said. Blackmon also has a mild injury, according to McCarthy, who did not address Jennings' injury. Jennings rode a stationary bike for most of practice and did have anything visibly wrong with him. Tackle Chad Clifton appeared to hurt his elbow during a team period late in practice and did not return. The rest of today's inactive list contained the usual suspects: safety Marviel Underwood, linebacker Abdul Hodge, receivers Robert Ferguson and Chris Francies, defensive tackle Justin Harrell, guard Tony Palmer, tackle Kevin Barry, running back Arliss Beach and defensive tackle Kevin Barry. Running back DeShawn Wynn, who suffered a calf injury in the first practice of last month's rookie minicamp, participated and took some reps with the first-team offense in Jackson's absence. Several players who missed the Packers' only open OTA practice last week -- including cornerback Al Harris, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett and guard Junius Coston -- attended and participated in all drills. Cornerback Antonio Malone, who landed on injured reserve when NFL Europe rosters were set in April, also practiced. He wore No. 46.
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Practice over for today
Today's Packers practice is officially over. Tackle Mark Tauscher missed practice because of a death in his family and QB Aaron Rodgers missed practice to attend his brother's graduation.
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QB Rodgers, T Tauscher not at practice today
Starting tackle Mark Tauscher and backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers are the most notable absences from today's practice. Defensive tackle Corey Williams, who was with his ailing sister last week, and cornerback Charles Woodson also are not at the practice. Woodson is not expected to attend any of the OTA practices. Cornerback Will Blackmon is at the practice, but is not participating. Coach Mike is expected to address the media when practice ends around 1:15 p.m.
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OTA practice moved inside
Today's organized team activities practice has been moved indoors to the Don Hutson Center because of wind and the threat of rain. It was scheduled to be one of only four OTA practices open to the public. Dozens of fans had been waiting for to watch the practice.
P.S. Awaiting PICS
