After a successful workout on Wednesday, the Packers are signing Volson, a former fourth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals where he’d play exclusively at left guard for three years. Volson is being signed to the Packers’ practice squad, where he’ll take the final open spot.

Ironically, Volson was drafted No. 136 overall in 2022—four spots after the Packers selected wideout Romeo Doubs, and four spots before they’d draft Zach Bako-Bewele, their current right tackle.

It’s almost certainly no surprise by any stretch of the imagination that the Packers are outsourcing for some form of aid to the interior of their offensive line. The unit was downright offensive in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, with Donovan Jennings and Jacob Monk starting at left guard and right guard, respectively. Both players combined for six pressures, with Monk being responsible for four of them.

Jennings had just six career snaps to his name coming into the game, and Monk was logging his first career start at right guard. His prior experience wasn’t much more extensive than that of Jennings—Monk had 57 regular-season snaps under his belt, 51 of which came in last year’s finale versus the Vikings when he started at center with the rest of the Packers’ backups.

The Packers’ plan failed miserably, as quarterback Jordan Love was hit a stunning 18 times in the 17-point loss. The Vikings scored 29 unanswered points, including a 22-point fourth quarter after the Packers spent much of the game in the driver’s seat.

“During the season, there’s going to be so much adversity that comes up, and losing in week one, that’s what it is,” Love said Wednesday. “Everybody knows what it is, and now it’s about moving on. We’re here in week two; it’s about dialing into our process, getting back here, putting a good week of prep together, getting our bodies right, and attacking it.”

Part of that preparation will be getting Volson up to speed with the offense and protection calls as soon as humanly possible. The 28-year-old will be hard-pressed to play Sunday against the Jets, but if the Packers’ offensive line strings together another ghastly performance, the urgency to get him ready sooner rather than later will be elevated.

Jets head coach and defensive playcaller Aaron Glenn blitzed the Tennessee Titans’ offense last week at the third-highest rate in the league. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who blitzed Love on 87 percent of his dropbacks, was the highest. Volson spent all three years in Cincinnati under head coach Zac Taylor, who was the Los Angeles Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach in 2017 when Matt LaFleur was their offensive coordinator. There could be some carryover and similarities in the offense’s structure, potentially expediting the time it takes Volson to familiarize himself.

Volson, a three-year starter for the Bengals, played 3,376 snaps exclusively at left guard from 2022 through the 2024 campaign. He was a member of an offensive line that routinely faced scrutiny for its inability to protect quarterback Joe Burrow. The former No. 1 overall pick was sacked more than 40 times in the 2022 and 2024 seasons, the same years that Volson allowed 43 pressures apiece. Volson was credited with giving up at least five sacks in each of his three seasons with the Bengals.

Toward the latter end of Volson’s final season with the Bengals, he was demoted in favor of Cody Ford.

During training camp last summer, Volson sustained a shoulder injury that would ultimately require season-ending surgery. He was waived with an injury designation, but would revert to the team’s injured reserve list where he’d remain for the duration of the regular season. The following spring, Volson signed with the Titans, but his stint was short-lived after he was released during final cut-downs in August.

The Titans’ fifth-round picks in back-to-back draft classes got the better of Volson in training camp. Fernando Carmona, a rookie, won the starting right guard job while Jackson Slater, a 2025 selection, has showcased enough improvement that the team was comfortable with him as the primary backup.

Volson could find himself competing with yet another fifth-round rookie for a spot on an offensive line in an entirely new city. Jager Burton was drafted 11 spots after Carmona this past spring, and he spent his first summer in the league taking snaps at all three interior positions, with the majority coming at left guard. It’s unclear just how the Packers will reconfigure their offensive line this week, but it’s something that LaFleur has already indicated that the team is taking a look at.

The makeup of the interior is going to be largely dependent on the health of Aaron Banks, whose unpredictable bout with knee tendinitis is keeping his availability in a state of flux. He was the Packers’ starter at left guard last season, and that’ll likely continue to be the case when he’s healthy—but the when is a concerning qualifier.

The Packers clearly know that the tandem of Jennings and Monk weren’t good enough, and while they desperately continue their search for some form of continuity amongst their starting five, it’s fair to assume that those two won’t be part of the solution. The competition at right guard remains as such, with Monk, Burton, and Anthony Belton, last year’s starter, firmly in the mix as candidates. Now Volson will throw his hat into the ring, too.

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

He’s trending in a positive direction toward potentially making his season debut in Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Still, any development has to be taken with a grain of salt. The 29-year-old practiced in a limited capacity in all three sessions last week, but he was still held out of Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s simply the nature of the beast that Banks is currently dealing with. He’s been hindered by knee tendinitis since the start of training camp, forcing him to operate on a day-on, day-off schedule as the team’s medical staff attempts to manage it. The positive takeaway is that Banks didn’t have a setback after Wednesday’s practice.

“He had a good day of work,” said head coach Matt LaFleur ahead of Thursday’s practice. “Hopefully, he can get back out there today and continue to build upon that.”

Banks returning to his typical spot at left guard would give the Packers one less thing to worry about when it comes to reconfiguring a makeshift offensive line that surrendered a stunning 18 hits to quarterback Jordan Love in Minnesota. Jacob Monk, who made his first career start at right guard last week, accounted for four total pressures. The Packers will likely experiment with either rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton or Anthony Belton, last year’s starter at the position, in his place.

Edge defender Lukas Van Ness also practiced for a second consecutive day as he navigates through concussion protocol. He and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave reported concussion-like symptoms upon their return to the team’s facility Monday morning. Van Ness is evidently further along, improving his chances of playing Sunday against the Jets. If he can’t, one of Arron Mosby or Nyjalik Kelly will be called up from the practice squad.

“Those guys had great training camps,” LaFleur said. “In the event [Van Ness] can’t go, I’d expect one of those guys to be ready to go.”

Hargrave’s situation appears to be a little more severe. He practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday, but was held out entirely on Thursday. The Packers will presumably be without him this week.

Brandon Cisse, meanwhile, is off the injury report entirely. He exited Sunday’s game in Minnesota with cramps, which kept him limited in Wednesday’s session.

Here’s the full practice report for Thursday.

Limited Participation

• OL Zach Bako-Bewele (Knee)

• OG Aaron Banks (Knee)

• LB Ty’Ron Hopper (Achilles)

• EDGE Barryn Sorell (Foot)

• EDGE Lukas Van Ness (Concussion)

• DT Devonte Wyatt (Ankle)

Did Not Participate

• DT Warren Brinson (Calf)

• DT Javon Hargrave (Knee/Concussion)

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

Remaining composed in a two-minute drill is one thing, but dropping back to pass with a mere two seconds to survey the field before absorbing a violent collision from an unblocked rusher is an entirely different animal. It’s the animal that Love, for the most part, tamed in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

In Love’s sixth meeting with Brian Flores, the Vikings’ maniacal defensive coordinator, he was blitzed in some capacity on 87 percent of his dropbacks. Love managing to get the ball out of his hand just before ending up on his back became almost routine. Head coach Matt LaFleur counted what he estimated to be 15 hits on his quarterback, but offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich later revealed that it was actually 18.

And yet, Love never flinched. No matter what Flores and a defensive front hellbent on breaking him in half threw at him, Love remained undeterred.

Read more

Thankfully, the loss to the Minnesota Vikings—a game in which the Packers surrendered an unanswered run of 29 points, including a 22-point fourth quarter—wasn’t compounded by any major injuries, aside from the typical bumps and bruises after such a physical bout. There is some concern with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and edge defender Lukas Van Ness, who are currently in the concussion protocol.

Both players presumably experienced concussion-like symptoms by the time they returned to the facility on Monday. They were limited participants in Wednesday’s practice; it’s an encouraging sign that they weren’t held out entirely, but the Packers are going to proceed with caution whenever the head is involved. Hargrave is also still dealing with the same knee issue he was listed with last week, but the Packers are managing that.

As was the case last week, defensive tackle Warren Brinson was the lone non-participant on Wednesday.

Brinson missed each of the Packers’ final two preseason games with a calf injury that has now dragged into the regular season. The injury wasn’t deemed severe enough to land him on injured reserve, but he’s on pace to now miss consecutive games to begin the year.

A noteworthy development in Wednesday’s session was Aaron Banks’ participation, which head coach Matt LaFleur conveyed before the start of practice. That doesn’t bode positively or negatively for his chances of playing Sunday against the Jets, considering he practiced—albeit in a limited capacity—on all three days last week and was still inactive in Minnesota.

“We’re trying to get him ramped up and ready to go again, but again, that’s a process we’ll take through the week,” LaFleur said.

As has been the case, Banks’ situation is going to be worth monitoring—not just for this week, but likely for the duration of the season. The 29-year-old starter at left guard has been battling knee tendinitis and spent training camp operating on a day-on, day-off schedule. He has his good days, but much to the Packers’ chagrin, he has his bad days, too. The Packers started Donovan Jennings at left guard in his place on Sunday against the Vikings, and, predictably, his audition wasn’t a smooth one.

In fact, the tandem of Jennings and Jacob Monk at right guard underperformed to such an extent that the Packers’ coaching staff is spending the week reconfiguring the makeup of their offensive line. Rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton and Anthony Belton, last year’s starting right guard, are both firmly in the competition.

Here’s the full practice report to begin the week.

Full Participation

• CB Brandon Cisse (Cramps)

Limited Participation

• OL Zach Bako-Bewele (Knee)

• OG Aaron Banks (Knee)

• DT Javon Hargrave (Knee/Concussion)

• LB Ty’Ron Hopper (Achilles)

• EDGE Barryn Sorell (Foot)

• EDGE Lukas Van Ness (Concussion)

• DT Devonte Wyatt (Ankle)

Did Not Participate

DT Warren Brinson (Calf)

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

They’re also receiving an assist from the improving health of right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, who played all 68 offensive snaps against the Vikings. It was his first extensive work since sustaining a partially torn patellar tendon in his knee in last season’s Dec. 14 loss to the Denver Broncos. The further he gets from the injury and the more repetitions he gains under his belt, the better off the Packers will be for it. It’ll also allow the coaching staff some added flexibility with their dilemma at both guard positions.

Bako-Bewele stabilizing the right side of the offensive line means the Packers can shift Anthony Belton back inside to right guard, which is where the second-round pick started eight games last season as a rookie.

Read more

Sunday night came and went. Players and coaches returned to the facility Monday morning to—reluctantly—review the mostly despicable film from the 17-point loss, and it turns out LaFleur’s guess fell just short of the mark.

“18 times, actually,” said offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich on Tuesday.

No one would fault Love for waking up the following morning with extreme soreness after crossing paths with Brian Flores, the Vikings’ maniacal defensive coordinator. The Packers—as do most teams—know all too well Flores’ tendencies to conjure up a bevy of psychotic blitz packages that make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. Knowing that the Packers had a glaring deficiency along the interior of their offensive line, Flores exploited it tenfold.

Read more

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell addressed the play on Monday and confirmed that the league investigated the nature of it; however, it wasn’t perceived to be malicious on the part of Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard.

“It was a violent, physical play,” O’Connell said.

On the Vikings’ third offensive possession of Sunday’s divisional tilt against the Packers, Murray, renowned for his dual-threat ability, left the pocket in an effort to pick up a first down with his legs on third-and-7. The Packers’ defensive backfield converged to keep him short of the sticks, and while attempting to slide to avoid contact, Murray was sandwiched by Bullard and edge defender Lukas Van Ness.

Murray slowly and awkwardly shifted over onto his back while several teammates gestured for the medical staff. Bullard was slapped with an unnecessary roughness penalty, and the Vikings, now with No. 2 quarterback Carson Wentz under center, were gifted a free 15 yards and a fresh set of downs.

Whether or not Bullard should’ve been flagged has been a topic of conversation. Murray appeared to enter his slide a little too late for any defender, let alone a speedy safety coming downhill, to suddenly halt his momentum. In real time, the hit from Bullard looked significantly worse than it was, but the league has made it clear in its intent to protect the head of the quarterback, even in polarizing situations such as this.

“As fast as those things happen out there, it would be one thing if there was a head-first slide and a clear declaration,” said O’Connell. “But I don’t put any fault on anybody there.”

O’Connell added that Murray came into the team’s facility on Monday and feels “pretty good,” but he'll remain in concussion protocol. He’s been participating in team meetings, which could be a positive sign for his availability for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Murray attempted just five passes in his debut with the Vikings—one of which was intercepted on his very first dropback—before being replaced by Wentz. Oddly enough, Wentz subbing in may have been to the detriment of the Packers, who spent all week preparing and game-planning for Murray’s tendencies.

Wentz, who started five games for the Vikings last season amid their quarterback carousel, tossed three touchdowns and completed 12 of his 19 passing attempts for 133 yards. He helped orchestrate a massive comeback that saw the Vikings score 29 unanswered points after trailing 22-10, including a 22-point fourth quarter. Notably, the Vikings were four-for-four on their red-zone trips, with all four touchdowns coming in the final 20 minutes of the game.

The Packers were a stark contrast, only cashing in with a touchdown on one of their four red-zone trips in the game.

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

The Packers already had the points on the board after Trey Smack booted a 40-yard field goal attempt through the uprights, but an offsides penalty on Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner placed LaFleur in a predicament. The Packers, sporting a 22-17 lead in the fourth quarter, could’ve elected to preserve the points and give themselves an eight-point cushion, or they could’ve accepted the five-yard penalty and created what should’ve been a manageable fourth-and-1.

LaFleur opted for the latter.

Read more

And yet, the Packers appeared woefully unprepared for everything Flores threw at them.

“We knew that was the challenge going in,” said head coach Matt LaFleur on Monday after having a night to digest the Packers’ dismal 39-22 loss. They surrendered a 29-point unanswered run to the Vikings, including a 22-point fourth quarter.

“They were going to give you some tough looks. That’s the toughest test you’re going to face Week 1, is playing that defense in that environment.”

With injuries to starting left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele throughout training camp, it was unclear how the Packers would configure their offensive line for the Sept. 13 divisional bout. If anything was learned from Sunday’s events, it’s that the starting guard tandem of Donovan Jennings and Jacob Monk probably won’t stick.

Read more

Jordan Love attempted 19 passes in the first half of Sunday’s season-opening divisional clash with the Minnesota Vikings. He completed nine of them for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns—both of which went to wideout Christian Watson. That includes an 81-yard reception on a crossing route on the Packers’ second possession of the game. For a moment, it appeared that it was going to be called back due to an illegal block from fellow receiver Matthew Golden, but the flag was picked up.

All three of the Packers’ opening drives led to points. Rookie kicker Trey Smack connected on field goals from 59 and 43 yards out.

Kyler Murray exited the game with what was later diagnosed as a concussion following a brutal hit from safety Javon Bullard. He was replaced by Carson Wentz, who started several games for the Vikings last season. J.J. McCarthy, their former first-round pick, is the emergency No. 3 quarterback.

It seemed that every single time Love dropped back to pass, crazed Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was sending the house on well-scripted blitzes that pushed the pressure into his lap. It didn’t help that the Packers’ interior is the weakest point of their offensive line; Donovan Jennings and Jacob Monk are the two starting guards. They combined for three allowed pressures in the first half.

When asked what factored into the decision to start Jennings, LaFleur attributed it to “time on task” throughout the offseason and training camp.

“He’s done a nice job, so I feel like he earned that opportunity,” he said.

The worst moment of the first half featured an onslaught of penalties. Jennings was called for a false start on first down, followed by Love’s incomplete pass on first-and-15. A four-yard run from Chris Books was negated by a holding penalty on center Sean Rhyan, which made it second-and-25. Love would then fire incomplete passes on second and third down.

For the most part, the Packers’ defense held up well in its first audition under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Cornerback Keisean Nixon split a sack with defensive tackle Jonathan Ford to start the Vikings’ sixth drive, but the celebration was short-lived. Wentz completed a pair of third-down passes to Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson to keep the Vikings’ drive alive. He’d then draw Lukas Van Ness offsides and heave a 39-yard deep ball to Jefferson with rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse in coverage.

The Packers’ final drive of the first half couldn’t have been executed better. Thanks to a phenomenal blitz pickup from Brooks, Love was gifted an extra second to find returning tight end Tucker Kraft down the seam for a 23-yard gain. A couple of plays later, Love found Watson downfield for a 32-yard completion with an assist from cornerback Byron Murphy, who was flagged for defensive pass interference. The seven-play, 74-yard drive ate up 1:41 from the clock and concluded with Watson’s second touchdown catch.

Love was 6-of-14 for 155 yards and a touchdown against Flores’ relentless blitzing in the first half. There were several instances where the Packers failed to establish the run on early downs, forcing them to play from behind the sticks.

“I felt that he was getting the ball out of his hands,” LaFleur said after the loss. “That’s a tough defense to go against because they can cause a lot of problems. You can just see it in the fourth quarter especially, when we had to start throwing it—I’d even go back to the first half as well when we got behind the sticks. If we had a negative play, a negative run, it just opens the flood gates, and it’s a guessing game. Are they bringing it or are they bluffing you?

“That’s the game they want to play.”

A perplexing third-and-11 toss from shotgun to Brooks ended the Packers’ opening drive of the second half. LaFleur said that the Vikings’ defense was showing an “all-out,” look, but they bailed out of it at the last second to defend the run.

A quick Vikings possession returned the ball to the Packers, who capitalized this time around. Love found new tight end Jonnu Smith for a 43-yard completion on second-and-8, but the drive faltered in the red zone. Smack converted a 26-yard field goal, his third of the afternoon.

Standout kick returner Myles Price brought Smack’s kickoff back 68 yards, and the Vikings needed just six plays to find pay dirt. Wentz connected with Hockenson for a 16-yard touchdown reception when he easily shook free of coverage from linebacker Zaire Franklin. It appeared that safety Xavier McKinney was a step too late getting to Hockenson.

A major turning point in the game took place on the Packers’ following possession. The third quarter would end with Love being sacked for the first time; remarkably, it took that long for the Vikings’ rush to finally bring him to the turf. He’d respond with a 42-yard bullet to Golden that brought the Packers to the doorstep of the red zone. On third-and-6, the Packers failed to pick up the first down and were going to opt for another field goal from Smack, but Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner jumped offsides, setting up a fourth-and-1.

LaFleur decided to take the points off the board and go for it, but Love’s quarterback sneak failed. The quarterback said after the game that he had two plays ready to be called at the line of scrimmage, but the Vikings were presenting a favorable look for a sneak.

“They did a good job stopping it,” Love said. “I think there’s some stuff I could’ve done better with my operation, and even with the play call. We had two plays called there—one was a quarterback sneak. I thought we could get it, and we didn’t.”

Sporting a 22-17 lead, the Packers’ defense had multiple missed opportunities to get off the field. Edgerrin Cooper would’ve had back-to-back sacks, but his second was negated by an illegal contact flag on Bullard at the top of Jauan Jennings’ route. Shortly after, rookie defensive tackle Chris McClellan was flagged for roughing the passer when he landed on top of Wentz.

Later in the drive, Wentz threw an interception to safety Evan Williams, but that, too, was wiped away by a holding penalty on McKinney. Aaron Jones would ultimately scamper in for a touchdown, giving the Vikings their first lead of the game.

With a chance to answer, the Packers didn’t even have an opportunity to get their drive off the ground. MarShawn Lloyd lost yardage on a first-down carry, and then Love was sacked on back-to-back dropbacks. Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele was beaten badly on the first, and then right guard Jacob Monk followed suit. Love fumbled, with the Vikings recovering and setting up a first-and-goal.

“It’s really hard, but that’s what they want,” said LaFleur. “They want you to play 11 personnel and get behind the sticks, and now it opens up Pandora’s Box. They’re just lining up everybody on the line of scrimmage, and that’s tough to deal with.

“We had some good answers early, but ultimately, coaching, playing—it’s all of us. We have to do a better job of putting plays in position, and when we are in position, we have to execute. We have to play cleaner football. Far too many penalties tonight.”

The Vikings were only flagged thrice on Sunday. The Packers were flagged four times as much (12).

Any hope of a comeback after trailing 32-22 was cut short after Love threw a tipped interception on the ensuing drive. Three plays later, Wentz found Jefferson for their second scoring connection of the afternoon.

The Vikings scored 29 unanswered points to win 39-22, including 22 points in the fourth quarter alone. It’s eerily reminiscent of the Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears in January when the Packers allowed them to go on a 28-6 run, including a 25-point fourth quarter. They were also much more efficient at cashing in on their red-zone trips, where the Vikings were 4-for-4. The Packers, meanwhile, were 1-for-4.

The Packers ran the ball (21) half as many times as they passed (42) and averaged just north of three yards per carry. Lloyd led the team with 13 carries for 37 yards, but whether it was him or Brooks, the ground game just never consistently found success.

For now, the Packers will have to once again sit with the bitter taste of a choked lead. Except this time, they don’t have the luxury of a full offseason to process it and move forward. They have a date in New York against the Jets next Sunday—time won’t wait. Dating back to last season, the Packers have now lost six consecutive games.

“We gotta keep getting better, keep working, keep going back to the drawing board and finding what went wrong and where we can improve,” Love said.

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

Ty’Ron Hopper, who missed practice for the majority of the week, is dealing with an Achilles injury. He was able to work in a limited capacity on Friday, however, indicating that he’s trending in a positive direction for a return in the near future.

The Packers elevated linebacker Kristian Welch for depth at the position, but he’ll likely take Hopper’s place on Cam Achord’s special teams unit.

Wideout Bo Melton, who was released on Friday and promptly re-signed to the practice squad shortly thereafter, was the Packers’ other elevation.

Warren Brinson is also inactive. The defensive tackle was the only player ruled out by the team on Friday as he battles a calf injury. He missed the Packers’ Aug. 28 preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals and all three days of practice this past week.

Of Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele, only the latter will play. They were both questionable with their respective knee injuries—Banks with knee tendinitis and Bako-Bewele working his way back from the partially torn patellar tendon he sustained last season. Banks was a limited practice participant throughout the week, but while managing an unpredictable ailment like knee tendinitis, it’s unclear when Banks’ good and bad days will be.

It’s also unknown at the moment who the Packers will start in Banks’ place at left guard. Donovan Jennings is currently listed as the backup, but rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton has spent the majority of the summer repping at the position. Burton has also cross-trained at center and right guard. Another option is former second-round pick Anthony Belton, who was the contingency plan at right tackle if Bako-Bewele couldn’t play. Belton spent the majority of his time on the field last season at right guard, but he has just two snaps at left guard.

“We’ll see,” said head coach Matt LaFleur of Banks and Bako-Bewele’s statuses for this week. “We’ll get them through [Friday] and see where they’re at, but it’s good to have them back out there.”

Bako-Bewele hasn’t minced words about his status for the Sept. 13 opener all summer.

“It’s not an option; I’m playing Week 1,” he said after the first practice of training camp on July 29.

Against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his maniacal blitz packages, having a healthy offensive line—or as close to it as possible—was imperative for the Packers. Even Jordan Morgan, their starting left tackle, was a question mark this week. A knee injury also hinders Morgan, but he logged full practice sessions in back-to-back days to end the week, so he was able to avoid a status designation.

The Packers will also have a full complement of defensive tackles at their disposal. Both Javon Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt were on the injury report, but like Morgan, didn’t receive a status designation.

“He’s done a great job,” LaFleur said of Hargrave, a free-agent acquisition for the Packers in March. “There’s something we kind of knew we were getting with that type of player, whether it’s from his past experience going back to Philly and San Francisco, and then watching him progress since he’s been here.

“Since he’s been back out on the practice field, you’re really starting to see who he is.”

Here’s the full list of scratches for Week 1 in Minnesota.

• LB Ty’Ron Hopper (Achilles)

• G Aaron Banks (Knee)

• T Travis Glover (Healthy)

• WR J. Michael Sturdivant (Healthy)

• DT Warren Brinson (Calf)

• DT Anthony Campbell (Healthy)

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

According to Wisn.com, one of Jacobs’ defense attorneys, Clarence Duhac III, filed a motion to temporarily seal the video evidence from inside Jacobs’ home, and Judge Marc Hammer signed off on it. It’s unclear just how long the video will be concealed from the public’s eye.

The video allegedly depicts the May 23 altercation inside Jacobs’ home garage, which, according to what was detailed in the police report, shows Jacobs shoving his then-girlfriend to the ground. The report also states that the victim hit her head—and the bump on her head supported that claim—before walking back into the house after lying on the ground for a while. In the midst of the incident, Jacobs smashed the victim’s phone.

Three days later, Jacobs was arrested by the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department and booked into Brown County Jail on five charges, one of which—strangulation and suffocation—was a Class H felony. Three of the charges were dismissed, and two of them—battery and criminal damage of property—were reduced to misdemeanors. His Nov. 17 court date was moved up to Thursday, Sept. 10, and Jacobs accepted a plea deal that included a $1,000 fine.

Notably, the prosecutors opted not to pursue a domestic violence charge, but that’s more a result of location than anything else. The only thing keeping Jacobs from being charged with domestic violence is the incident taking place in the state of Wisconsin, where either being married or formerly married, or sharing a child, is a prerequisite. Jacobs’ relationship with the victim doesn’t fall under that umbrella.

By pleading no contest to the two misdemeanors, Jacobs is neither admitting guilt nor claiming his innocence, but he’s accepting the charges. The criminal damage of property charge will be dismissed in a year if Jacobs follows these stipulations:

• Do no further criminal acts

• Do not contact the victim

• Submit to Criminal Justice Services for supervision for the next 12 months

• Complete a course for battery

• Pay restitution to the victim

Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List on Aug. 30, prohibiting him from participating in practices or attending games. The league is conducting its own investigation while Jacobs’ legal proceedings unfold, which will likely result in a multi-game suspension for violating the Personal Conduct Policy. However, matters could become increasingly difficult with the existence of the video and the ensuing protection of it. The league’s decision-makers could withhold from suspending Jacobs until they see the video for themselves; what it contains could drastically alter Jacobs’ playing career. There’s also an avenue where Jacobs can provide the video evidence to the league in an effort to expedite their decision while still keeping it from the general public.

The fact of the matter is that, if the video didn’t corroborate the grisly details in the police report and proved Jacobs’ innocence, he should be pushing for it to be released.

Head coach Matt LaFleur has repeatedly deferred to the league’s investigation when asked about Jacobs’ status. He said that the recent plea deal in court hasn’t changed his perception of Jacobs.

“I know the guy, I know the character of the guy,” LaFleur said. “I’ve said it many times. Unfortunately, situations occur in life, and it’s just an unfortunate situation.”

Preparation and bracing for the other shoe to drop has been the general theme of the summer for general manager Brian Gutekunst. There’s a realistic outcome that results with Jacobs being suspended and potentially even released by the Packers, but that’s entirely up to commissioner Roger Goodell. There isn’t any guaranteed money left in the four-year contract Jacobs signed with the Packers in the spring of 2024, so cutting bait would be relatively painless.

In an effort to alleviate Jacobs’ absence, the Packers traded a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for running back Kaleb Johnson two weeks ago. A former third-round pick, Johnson fell out of favor in a crowded backfield as a rookie in 2025, and his opportunities dwindled. When it appeared that he was headed for a bigger role this season, the Steelers signed Rico Dowdle and Travis Homer in free agency, pushing Johnson back down the depth chart.

Jacobs, meanwhile, has been a workhorse for the Packers since signing with the team in the spring of 2024. He's played 34 games in total for the Packers—32 in the regular season and two playoff games—and has amassed 31 touchdowns from scrimmage. His production dipped last season—he played in two fewer games and logged 67 fewer attempts—while battling a knee injury that plagued him across the final two months of the year. Jacobs still managed to eclipse 1,200 yards from scrimmage for the sixth time in seven seasons and averaged more than four yards per carry for the fourth time in the last five years.

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

Melton doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The Packers released the former seventh-round pick on Friday in what can only be described as a frugal, complex maneuver. Because Melton is considered a vested veteran by the league as a fourth-year player, the Packers would’ve had to guarantee his entire 2026 salary if he was on the 53-man roster for the first game of the season. By releasing him and re-signing him to the practice squad, they essentially skirted the system and saved some money.

After Sunday’s game, the assumption is that Melton will rejoin the 53-man roster on Monday. The entire saga provided the Packers with some added future flexibility if they need to make some difficult decisions once second-year gadget player Savion Williams is ready to be activated from injured reserve. Creating that roster spot at wide receiver could come down to either Melton or undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant.

Melton has appeared in some big moments for the Packers throughout his three-year tenure with the team. He’s appeared in 38 games, recording 28 receptions for 416 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Last summer, the Packers cross-trained him on the defensive side of the ball at cornerback, transitioning him into a two-way player similarly to how the Jacksonville Jaguars weaponize Travis Hunter.

Although he didn’t play a single regular-season snap at cornerback, his roster value skyrocketed. When he was deployed on offense, he served as a reliable target—albeit with reduced snaps in 2025—for Jordan Love. Melton was on the receiving end of a 45-yard touchdown in the Packers’ Dec. 7 win over the Chicago Bears. He’s also blossomed into a reliable contributor on special teams, playing 339 snaps over the last two seasons for Rich Bisaccia’s unit and cementing himself as one of the Packers’ top gunners. More of the same will likely be expected under Bisaccia’s successor, Cam Achord,

Welch’s elevation, however, is more telling of Ty’Ron Hopper’s health than anything else. Hopper, a third-year linebacker, has missed two practices this past week with an Achilles injury, but he was able to work in a limited capacity in Friday’s session. He’s trending in a positive direction, but the Packers presumably aren’t ready to throw him into the line of fire quite yet.

The Packers will deploy Welch primarily on special teams in Minnesota, which has been the case in his first two years with the team.

After spending the entirety of the 2023 season in Green Bay and appearing in 14 games, the Packers released Welch the following summer. That was the first of what would be three consecutive instances where Welch was released by the team in August, falling victim to final roster cuts in 2024, 2025, and 2026. He was re-signed to the practice squad in each of the last two years.

Welch appeared in eight games for the Packers last season, playing 87 total snaps for Bisaccia’s special teams unit. That number was a significant decline from the 237 he played in 2023.

It’s worth noting that the Packers didn’t elevate one of the three offensive linemen on their practice squad. Josh Gesky, Dillon Wade, and Dalton Cooper didn’t receive a call-up despite the Packers currently dealing with injuries to starting left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele—both players are questionable to play.

Even left tackle Jordan Morgan has been hindered by a knee injury since the preseason, but he didn’t receive a status designation for Sunday after logging back-to-back full practice sessions.

The only player who was ruled out was second-year defensive tackle Warren Brinson, who has missed a week’s worth of practice—and the preseason finale versus the Arizona Cardinals—with a calf injury. The ailment has kept him out of commission for multiple weeks now, but it wasn’t severe enough to land him on injured reserve.

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

It’s also something the 25-year-old tight end will no longer have to worry about, not that he ever was to begin with.

Kraft and the Packers agreed to a four-year extension worth $75 million on the eve of the first game of the regular season, keeping him in Green Bay through the 2030 season. The deal could reach a maximum value of $92 million and includes a $26.5 million signing bonus.

While Kraft’s signing bonus is the highest of any tight end in the league, his average yearly value falls just short of those of San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle ($19.1 million) and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride ($19.0 million). Kraft will receive $31.5 million in the first year of the deal and an average of $19.6 million annually across its first three years, which would place him atop the hierarchy at his position.

Kraft has made it clear that regardless of how negotiations unfold throughout the summer and leading into this weekend’s date with the Minnesota Vikings, he was going to be on the field. It’ll be his first time returning to action since sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the Packers’ Nov. 2 loss to the Carolina Panthers last season.

Stepping onto the field without financial security is a major risk for any player, let alone one as imperative to the Packers’ success as Kraft is. That’s especially true on the heels of a significant knee injury. But Kraft’s rehab process has been long and strenuous; he’s fought tooth and nail to get to where he is now. His first milestone was making his training camp debut on July 31. Two weeks later, on Aug. 16, he participated in 11-on-11 drills for the first time.

10 days later, he was available for the Packers’ joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals.

“I think we’re a different team when I’m out on the field,” Kraft said earlier this month. “I think that’s obvious. I think everyone in this organization, every fan, knows that, without sounding arrogant. I think there’s a different feel to the offense when I’m out there. The plan—I’ve kind of gone through life just taking things blow-by-blow, assuming things will always just work out in the end. For me, the preparation, the sacrifices I’ve made to be here right now—I’m just going to continue to assume it’s all going to work out for me.”

Kraft’s willingness to practice—and the Packers’ willingness to let him, really—has long served as an indicator that he’s close to inking a long-term deal with the Packers. Team brass has been working closely with Kraft’s representation, Jack Bechta of JB Sports, over the last several months. Kraft is now the sixth player issued a contract extension by the Packers since the start of the offseason, joining wide receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, starting center Sean Rhyan, linebacker Isaiah McDuffie, and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt.

General manager Brian Gutekunst has erred on the side of caution when discussing a potential extension for his 2023 third-round pick, deferring to the unpredictable nature of negotiations. The goal has always been to sign Kraft before the start of the season.

“We’d love to,” Gutekunst said last week. “I’ve talked to him. No real updates there, but we’re working towards it. Really would like to have that done before the season, but again, you never know how these things are going to go.”

Kraft said that he doesn’t know the Packers’ plan for him yet, but he’s anticipating having his snap count controlled in some capacity for at least the first half of the season. That could mean that he’ll play anywhere from 30 to 45 snaps in a game—he averaged 54.8 snaps per game through eight weeks last season. It’s too early to say, but the important thing is that he‘ll be available. Creating a hold-out until he has a new contract was never something that crossed Kraft’s mind.

“I’m not someone to orchestrate a hold-out— mostly because they're going to find me—but mostly because I know the value I bring to this team, and I think our best odds of playing in the postseason are with me early on in the season,” Kraft said. “I'm just going to continue to attack everything the same way I attack my rehab. I want to be out on the field, I want to play every play that I can play. So I’m leaving all this contract stuff—it’s in the hands of my agent now. I've done all I can this offseason, attacking my rehab, coming back, proving I'm not afraid of contact, not afraid of anything, and I hope they see that. I'm not afraid to keep working and keep trying to make this team better.

“I will be on the field to play for the Green Bay Packers regardless of any contract situation, because I love this team, and you can't replicate this locker room anywhere else in the NFL.”

Across the eight games he played last season, Kraft recorded 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns, including two 120-plus-yard performances. He was the only tight end in the league with at least 30 receptions, more than 475 receiving yards, and at least six touchdowns while averaging 15-plus yards per catch. Kraft became the fifth tight end since the 1970 merger to eclipse those marks.

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

The Packers’ starting left tackle has now logged back-to-back days as a full participant in practice. He’ll enter Sunday without a status designation on the injury report, but the same can’t be said for two of his running mates.

Starting right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and left guard Aaron Banks are both questionable for the game with their respective knee injuries. Banks and the Packers’ medical staff have been managing tendinitis in his knee—an ailment that could flare up on any given day. Bako-Bewele, meanwhile, has been recovering from the partially torn patellar tendon he sustained in last season’s Dec. 14 loss to the Denver Broncos. If Morgan got the green light, Bako-Bewele and Banks are stuck on yellow.

It’s unclear how the Packers will configure their offensive line in the event that both players are unavailable. Rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton could potentially start in place of Banks at left guard, even though Donovan Jennings is listed as the primary backup. Burton has spent much of his summer repping at all three interior positions, but the majority of that time was at left guard. 2025 second-round pick Anthony Belton, who spent most of his rookie season at right guard, will likely start in place of Bako-Bewele at right tackle.

“We’ll see,” said head coach Matt LaFleur of the Packers’ battered offensive line. “We’ll get them through today and see where they’re at, but it’s good to have them back out there.”

The status of linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper is murkier than the others. He’s battling an Achilles injury and missed the first two practice sessions of the week, but worked in a limited capacity on Friday. How he looks in Saturday’s walkthrough could make or break his chances of playing in Minnesota.

Defensive tackle Warren Brinson, who has been dealing with a calf injury since mid-August, was ruled out.

Here’s the full, final injury report for Sunday.

Questionable

OT Zach Bako-Bewele (Knee)

OG Aaron Banks (Knee)

LB Ty’Ron Hopper (Achilles)

Out

DT Warren Brinson (Calf)

No Designation

OT Jordan Morgan (Knee)

DT Javon Hargrave (Knee)

EDGE Barryn Sorrell (Foot)

DT Devonte Wyatt (Ankle)

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

Don’t jump to conclusions just yet, though. Melton will presumably pass through waivers unclaimed and be re-signed to the Packers’ practice squad. But that’s not guaranteed—a team like the Miami Dolphins could claim Melton and throw a wrench in the Packers’ plans.

Assuming that doesn’t happen, Melton will return to Green Bay and even be elevated to the active roster to play Sunday in Minnesota. The expectation is that he’ll return to the Packers’ 53-man roster next week.

It’s merely a roster management move by the Packers, but it’s unclear exactly what the reason is. They’ve executed similar maneuvers in the past, parting ways with tight end Tyrone Davis on the eve of a game against the New Orleans Saints in 2002. Most recently, they did it with long-snapper Matt Orzech in October 2024.

Despite being a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, Melton has just two accrued and three credited seasons in the league. He was on the Seahawks’ practice squad for the entirety of his rookie season, and appeared in just five games for the Packers in 2023. To gain an accrued season, a player has to be on a team’s active roster for at least six games, which Melton has done just twice in Green Bay.

For a credited season, requirements are a little easier to meet. A player has to be on a team’s active roster—injured reserve and Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) lists are also acceptable—for at least three regular or post-season games. Melton has three such seasons, but to be a vested veteran, he’ll have to reach four.

Melton has appeared in some big moments for the Packers throughout his three-year tenure with the team. He’s appeared in 38 games, recording 28 receptions for 416 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Last summer, the Packers cross-trained him on the defensive side of the ball, transitioning him into a two-way player similarly to how the Jacksonville Jaguars weaponize Travis Hunter.

Although he didn’t play a single regular-season snap at cornerback, his roster value skyrocketed. When he was deployed on offense, he served as a reliable target—albeit with reduced snaps in 2025—for Jordan Love. Melton was on the receiving end of a 45-yard touchdown in the Packers’ Dec. 7 win over the Chicago Bears.

He’s also blossomed into a reliable contributor on special teams, playing 339 snaps over the last two seasons for Rich Bisaccia’s unit and cementing himself as one of the Packers’ top gunners. More of the same will likely be expected under Bisaccia’s successor, Cam Achord, assuming Melton returns to the team.

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

Starting left tackle Jordan Morgan, who has been dealing with a knee injury since last month, was upgraded to a full practice participant on Thursday. That’s a good sign that the former first-round pick should be in the Packers’ starting lineup for Sunday’s opener against the Minnesota Vikings, barring any setbacks. The Packers still have one more practice on Friday and a walkthrough on Saturday before they depart for Minnesota.

For a moment, there was a chance—and there still is—that Morgan was in danger of missing the game. He’s one of three members of the Packers’ preferred starting offensive line listed on the injury report with a knee issue, along with left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele. Banks has been managing tendinitis in his knee, and Bako-Bewele is still working back from the partially torn patellar tendon he sustained last season.

The Packers’ offensive line will need all the help it can get against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who is renowned for his chaotic blitz packages that wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. If the Packers are going to keep Jordan Love upright, they’ll need their offensive line at full capacity, or at the very least as close to it as humanly possible.

Other than Morgan being upgraded from his limited session on Wednesday, there were no other changes to the Packers’ injury report.

Full

OT Jordan Morgan (Knee)

Limited

OT Zach Bako-Bewele (Knee)

OG Aaron Banks (Knee)

DT Javon Hargrave (Knee)

EDGE Barryn Sorrell (Foot)

DT Devonte Wyatt (Ankle)

Did Not Participate

DT Warren Brinson (Calf)

LB Ty’Ron Hopper (Achilles)

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

Flores, who is entering his fourth season leading the Vikings’ defense, is renowned for his relentless and often chaotic pressure packages that throttle opposing quarterbacks. He’s been at the helm in Minnesota for as long as Love has been the Packers’ starting quarterback, but with each meeting, his efforts to conjure up a tumultuous four quarters are becoming increasingly difficult.

“I mean, his growth and development has been outstanding,” Flores said of Love Thursday, according to The Athletic. “I think he sat for three seasons. When I got here, I don’t remember if that was the first year starting, but he’s just grown and grown. His command of the offense, whether it’s cadence or on the ball or no huddle, he’s got total command and understanding of what they’re trying to do.”

Love has blossomed into everything and more since taking the reins under center for the Packers, succeeding Aaron Rodgers and his Hall-of-Fame resume after a 15-year tenure as the starter. Most notably, his judgment at the line of scrimmage has improved to such a degree that Love is among some of the best quarterbacks in the league when it comes to understanding what’s being presented to him pre-snap.

While the Packers have a losing record (2-3) against the Vikings with Love, two of those three losses have been by just two points. None of the Packers’ starters played in last season’s Jan. 4 finale in Minnesota—their playoff seeding was already locked in place—but the Vikings won 16-3. The Nov. 23 matchup at Lambeau Field, however, saw the Packers clobber the Vikings 23-6.

Love completed 14 of his 21 passing attempts for just 139 yards on an afternoon that was headlined by running back Emanuel Wilson. Wilson accumulated 125 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns while Josh Jacobs was sidelined by a knee injury, earning FedEx Air and Ground Player of the Week honors for his performance. Even so, Love picked apart Flores’ blitz packages, completing 11 of his 18 passing attempts for 109 yards. He faced some form of blitz on more than 83 percent of his dropbacks.

Since Matt LaFleur became the Packers’ head coach in 2019, the two teams have split the series at an even 7-7 across 14 matchups. The Packers have lost three of the last four meetings, however, and haven’t beaten the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium since New Year’s Eve in 2023. Sunday’s opener will provide LaFleur and Love the opportunity to recalibrate the rivalry in their favor.

“He’s got a great coach, and they work extremely well together,” said Flores. “A great rapport with his receivers. He’s always been super talented, a naturally gifted, accurate thrower of the football. It’s actually been fun to watch him grow. So, [he’s] a big, big challenge for us. No doubt about that.”

Flores could very well be licking his chops when he sees the state of the Packers’ offensive line. Three of their preferred starters—left tackle Jordan Morgan, left guard Aaron Banks, and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele—are currently listed on the injury report with knee issues. Banks sustained his injury during the offseason program and opted against surgery, while Bako-Bewele is still working his way back from the partially torn patellar tendon he suffered in December. There’s optimism that both players will be available, but Morgan’s injury is both surprising and somewhat concerning.

LaFleur confirmed on Thursday that the knee injury currently hindering Morgan is one that he’s been dealing with throughout the summer. He played in each of the Packers’ first two preseason games with the rest of the No. 1 offense, so it’s unclear whether that’s when the injury occurred or if he was playing through it.

“For me, no matter who’s out there, I want to go out there and execute my job at a high level on every play,” Love said Wednesday. “For everybody, the receivers—you don’t have to go out there and do anything fancy or try to do anything more. Just go out there and do your job, make plays.”

Nevertheless, the offensive line could make or break the Packers on Sunday, and like a shark smelling blood in the water, that’s just how Flores prefers it. That’s not only true when it comes to pressuring Love, but the Packers may be hard-pressed to run the football. Sans Jacobs, who is on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, the Packers have MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and newcomer Kaleb Johnson in the stable. Pierre Strong Jr. and Damon Bankston are on the practice squad, but Bankston was signed this week, and Strong is dealing with a hamstring injury.

For all of the strides Love has made in the pre-snap recognition department, he’ll have to be at his absolute best if he’s going to once again overcome Flores’ tenacious and downright maniacal blitz.

“I think that area is definitely where I’ve grown the most since I got here,” Love said Wednesday. “Understanding protections, how to protect myself, how to make certain calls to pick stuff up, knowing when I’m out and how to get the ball out of my hands. I’m always trying to avoid the negative plays—sacks, not seeing a blitz and getting hit from behind, things like that.

“That’s where I’ve elevated my game the most. Since I’ve been here, that’s where I put the most time in, I feel like. Just trying to understand this stuff. When I got here, I didn’t do a whole lot of that in college, so definitely an area of my game that’s improved.”

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.

Not only does a gauntlet of the league’s best pass rushers await him, but he’ll have to overcome a nagging knee issue that has persisted throughout much of training camp. It’s the first hurdle in what the Packers otherwise hope to be a fruitful campaign for the former first-round pick.

The knee injury landed Morgan on the first injury report of the season on Wednesday. He was one of three members of the Packers’ preferred starting offensive line listed with a knee injury, along with left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, whose statuses for the Sept. 13 opener against the Minnesota Vikings are also in question.

Read more

The Packers signed defensive back Kahlef Hailassie to their practice squad on Wednesday. He was spotted on the practice field wearing No. 34.

Murvin Kenion III, who had an excellent preseason in Green Bay, was released as the corresponding roster move. He played 64 snaps in coverage across three exhibition contests, being targeted just once—a 20-yard reception in the Aug. 28 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Otherwise, it was a relatively painless preseason slate for the first-year undrafted safety from Nevada. He had six tackles in the Aug. 13 opener versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Packers are already absurdly light at the safety position, so they couldn’t release Kenion without bringing in someone to fill the void. Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, and Kitan Oladapo are the only safeties on the 53-man roster, but Javon Bullard—their starting nickelback—can also play on the back end if needed. With the addition of Hailassie, he’s the sole safety on the practice squad.

A native of Elk Grove, Calif., the 25-year-old Hailassie entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He spent two years playing collegiate football at Oregon, and another two at Western Kentucky before turning pro. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs, but fell victim to roster cut-downs the following summer. He was claimed on waivers by the Cleveland Browns before they released him by October and re-signed him to their practice squad.

2025 and 2026 have featured more of the same for Hailassie, almost as if he were living in a simulation. In back-to-back years, he’d sign a reserve/future contract with the Vikings in January before being released by the end of August. Between both stints in Minnesota, Hailassie spent two months with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hailassie was the corresponding signing after the Jaguars released Darnell Savage, a former first-round pick of the Packers.

The versatile Hailassie seemed to be stuck in an endless loop. Ideally, the Packers could prove to be the landing spot that sticks.

At 6’1” and 195 pounds, Hailassie has just nine regular-season games under his belt since joining the league. It’s a small sample size, but the do-it-all safety has thrived at multiple positions throughout his extensive playing time in the preseason. He played 38 snaps between the slot and in the box in three preseason games for the Vikings in 2025, as well as 21 snaps at free safety. The Vikings shifted him to safety, and in his first exposure at the position, he intercepted two passes in an Aug. 9 victory over the Houston Texans.

The following summer, Hailassie played almost exclusively at the safety position, where he logged 68 snaps. He surrendered just two receptions in three games, but one of them was an 88-yard play on a blown coverage that saw Denver Broncos rookie tight end Justin Joly scamper upfield untouched. It was a stain on an otherwise stellar afternoon for Hailassie, who intercepted a pass—his third in the last two years—from quarterback Sam Ehlinger.

While Bullard and even Kamal Hadden could potentially rotate to safety in a dire situation, the thin numbers at the position and Hailassie’s familiarity with the Vikings could result in a game-day elevation from the practice squad, despite the short turnaround.

Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.