GREEN BAY, Wis. — The first post-Family Night practice of training camp took place Sunday morning with a session that was closed to the public.
The Green Bay Packers held a smorgasbord of players out of the session, including receiver Matthew Golden, who shined in the scrimmage inside Lambeau Field. During one-on-one periods, he got the better of starting cornerback Keisean Nixon on three consecutive reps. During 11-on-11 team drills, he beat starting nickel Javon Bullard for a 52-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love.
He’s one of two of the team’s starting receivers being held out of Sunday’s practice due to injury.
WR Matthew Golden (Toe)
Golden didn’t emerge from Family Night unscathed. The second-year receiver is dealing with a toe injury, but it’s likely not presumed to be serious. The Packers may just be managing him—and potentially a handful of others—after a strenuous, humid night in front of more than 57,000 fans. The weather was humid, prompting a few players to exit the practice due to cramping.
WR Jayden Reed (Ankle)
Like Golden, it can’t be assumed that Reed’s new ankle injury is a significant issue. The only true detriment is that it hurts his chances of playing in the Aug. 13 preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers—a game that head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t rule out any of his starters participating in. It’s somewhat concerning that Reed is now dealing with this latest ailment after an injury-plagued 2025; the former second-round pick missed a massive chunk of the season with a broken collarbone and a Jones fracture.
LB Zaire Franklin (Travel)
It’s okay. Relax. Don’t sound the alarm. The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place on Saturday, and the Packers’ newest linebacker was in attendance. Longtime kicker Adam Vinatieri was enshrined, and Franklin, who played two seasons with him with the Indianapolis Colts, was in attendance. He was just late traveling back to Green Bay.
LB Edgerrin Cooper (Foot)
Maybe still don’t sound the alarm, but this is at least one to monitor. Cooper, a former second-round pick, is entering his third season and his first where he won’t be playing alongside Quay Walker. The Packers still believe there’s more in front of the versatile linebacker, and he should take a monumental leap in his first year under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. If this foot injury lingers throughout the remainder of the summer, that could be a major blow to the Packers’ defensive structure. The last thing anyone wants is for this to persist into the regular season.
CB Marlon Jones (Waived/Injured)
This is unfortunate. Jones’ story was worth rooting for, especially after he concluded the first practice of training camp with a pick-six that put members of the Packers’ coaching staff on notice. He was destined for the practice squad—there’s just too much competition in that room right now—but his journey has been remarkable. The former Vanderbilt cornerback beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma before playing one final season at the collegiate level and signing with the Packers as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason.
TE Josh Whyle (Neck)
General manager Brian Gutekunst has said it best in the past—when it comes to dealing with head, neck, and heart issues, the Packers are going to exercise extreme caution. That’ll be no different with Whyle, who has been the favorite to win the No. 2 tight end job over Luke Musgrave. Musgrave, a former second-round pick, is also dealing with a somewhat concerning neck injury that the Packers’ medical staff is still determining the outlook on.
RB Josh Jacobs (Groin)
Jacobs is dealing with a groin injury that doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue that will persist into the season, but it is lingering for a second week in a row. Even so, the Packers are going to tread carefully, and rightfully so—soft tissue injuries are notoriously tricky. With how thin and unproven their backfield is, they can’t afford to lose their No. 1 on the depth chart. MarShawn Lloyd is next up in the pecking order, and the first two years of his career have been plagued by injury, so he isn’t a reliable option. Pierre Strong Jr., Damien Martinez, and Jaden Nixon round out the rest of the room with Jacobs and Brooks sidelined.
CB Carrington Valentine (Hamstring)
The fourth-year cornerback is losing ground in the battle for a starting job in the Packers’ secondary. Second-round rookie Brandon Cisse and free-agent signing Benjamin St-Juste have made headlines throughout training camp, while Valentine has now missed three consecutive practices with a hamstring injury. He dropped out of the Aug. 2 practice prior to participating in 11-on-11 drills and hasn’t returned.
S Johnathan Baldwin (Knee)
An undrafted free agent in 2025 who spent the entirety of his rookie season on the Packers’ practice squad, Baldwin has flashed throughout camp so far. He exited practice on Monday with a knee injury, but it likely isn’t severe. Otherwise, he’d be another addition to the team’s PUP list. Baldwin is competing for the No. 2 slot cornerback role behind Bullard, and he’s certainly making his case for a spot on the 53-man roster. He even intercepted a pass from Tyrod Taylor in the second practice of camp.