Green Bay Packers training camp hit high gear during an eventful first week of padded practices in early August 2026, featuring breakout plays from undrafted wide receiver Will Sheppard, surging performances from newcomer Benjamin St-Juste, and mounting roster questions at key positions.
Will Sheppard’s Two-Play Sequence Highlights Training Camp Grit
Training camp often centers on star players, but the real theater on Ray Nitschke Field during the first padded session involved players fighting for a future in the NFL. Undrafted wide receiver Will Sheppard delivered the most talked-about sequence of the week during a high-stakes, two-minute drill.
Earlier in the practice, third-year safety Mark Perry lit Sheppard up over the middle, leaving the young receiver on the ground briefly after getting the wind knocked out of him. Sheppard missed just a single play before reentering the huddle. Moments later, facing a third-and-15 from the 24-yard line with no timeouts remaining and his team trailing 28-26, Sheppard ran a deep field post route, beat Perry down the middle, and hauled in a 61-yard gain from backup quarterback nytimes.com.
“Tyrod basically, out the huddle, just said, ‘Ay, make sure you run,’ And that’s exactly what I did. I just ran and got it … It’s what we paid to do. Come out here, get hit, get knocked down, just get back up, next-play mentality. So that’s kinda how I go about my day every day.”
Will Sheppard, wide receiver, via The New York Times
Taylor praised the rookie’s tracking ability and angle selection on the play. The explosive catch allowed Taylor to spike the ball with three seconds left, setting up rookie kicker Trey Smack for a game-winning 33-yard field goal.
Secondary Shake-Up and Defensive Backfield Standouts
Green Bay entered training camp looking to patch a leaky secondary that managed just seven interceptions a year ago—tying a franchise low—while finishing 20th in opponent passer rating at 92.7. Early camp returns suggest the cornerback room has received a genuine injection of talent.
Free-agent addition Benjamin St-Juste has turned heads with his imposing 6-foot-3 frame and physical play. St-Juste highlighted his strong start by intercepting a pass off backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor for a pick-six.
“I’m very versatile, with size, I tackle well, I’m able to set the edges, make sure that on my side of the ball, it’s not easy to run the ball there. If we play man, I’m very aggressive with the smaller receivers. That’s where they like me using my length, using my arms to slow down the process.”
Benjamin St-Juste, cornerback, via Forbes
Meanwhile, second-round draft pick Brandon Cisse has quickly asserted himself with the first-team defense. Cisse, who did not turn 21 until July 3, has shown he belongs among the starters despite his youth. The heightened competition has also pushed incumbent Carrington Valentine, who responded with a strong practice featuring a pair of passes defensed, though he subsequently missed a session due to a hamstring injury.
Pass-Rush Pressure and Injury Concerns on the Offensive Side
While the secondary shows promise, questions loom over Green Bay’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Star defensive end Micah Parsons is expected to miss at least the first month of the regular season, forcing defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to find creative ways to generate a pass rush. First-round pick Lukas Van Ness has tallied just 8.5 career sacks since entering the league in 2023, and running mate Barryn Sorrell has experienced a quiet start to camp.
Head coach Matt LaFleur expressed excitement about his roster overall during his eighth training camp, but he voiced frustration regarding physical play in the trenches once the pads went on.
“They got to be smart, too, If they get a guy on their heels and you’re going into the lap of the quarterback, that’s the one thing that I’ve been probably most disappointed with is how many guys we’ve had in the quarterback’s lap. It doesn’t take a lot. I mean, you see it all the time — guys hitting their hand, throwing their hand on a guy’s helmet and that’s not good for anybody.”
Matt LaFleur, head coach, via The New York Times
Depth issues extend beyond the pass rush. The tight end room absorbed multiple blows as Luke Musgrave remained sidelined with a neck injury of unknown severity, undrafted rookie R.J. Maryland missed practice with a hamstring strain, and Luke Lachey was spotted navigating the facility on a medical scooter with his left leg propped up.
Roster Battles at Center and Running Back
Behind an entrenched starting offensive line consisting of Zach Tom, Jordan Morgan, Sean Rhyan, Aaron Banks, and Anthony Belton, training camp features an intense competition for the backup center role. Fifth-round draft pick Jager Burton has drawn praise from the coaching staff as a hard-nosed mauler, battling 2024 fifth-rounder Jacob Monk, who logged just 57 snaps last regular season following a difficult preseason marked by persistent penalties and struggles.
In the backfield, star running back Josh Jacobs heads the depth chart, though the team awaits any league fallout from his spring arrest. Behind him, third-year pro MarShawn Lloyd looks to overcome an injury-plagued career that has limited him to a single regular-season appearance, while newcomer Chris Brooks continues to press for the backup role by proving his utility as a pass blocker and receiver out of the backfield.
