Football is sort of back. Even if it’s only preseason football, it’s always exciting when the calendar flips to August. The Green Bay Packers open their preseason slate on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns.
Here are six players to keep tabs on throughout the game:
Javon Bullard, DB
Bullard is expected to start alongside Xavier McKinney in the backend of Green Bay’s secondary. The versatile rookie defensive back has put together an impressive training camp and made several plays on the ball during Green Bay’s family night.
It seems like every practice Bullard has done something impressive, showcasing why Brian Gutekunst & Co. were high on the versatile defensive back. The former Georgia Bulldog will be watched closely when he takes the field in Cleveland on Saturday.
Evan Williams, DB
Williams is pushing Bullard for reps alongside McKinney. During his collegiate career, Williams was always around the action, which has continued to be the case thus far throughout training camp. The fourth-round pick has made his fair share of plays on the practice field and with his playmaking ability he could force Jeff Hafley to get him on the field more often than not.
Marshawn Lloyd, RB
Instant offense. The former track athlete is a spark plug and finished last season at USC with 24 runs of 10-plus yards and averaged over seven yards per carry. Both Brian Gutekunst and Adam Stenavich have raved about his speed and burst. It will be interesting to see how much work the rookie running back gets on Saturday, but he may not need many touches to make an impact.
Lukas Van Ness, DE
The Van Ness breakout season will start on Saturday. Last year’s 13th overall pick closed out his rookie season with a bang. During the final eight games, Van Ness recorded four sacks and 13 pressures. If Van Ness can continue to build off that success entering year two, the Packers could have the makings of a formidable pass rush.
Ty’Ron Hopper, LB
Hopper popped up on the injury report (ankle) during Thursday’s practice, so he may not suit up on Saturday. If he is cleared to play, the third-round rookie could be in line for a fair share of snaps. Hopper has showcased his fluidity and speed to match up in coverage and the sideline-to-sideline range to develop into an impact player for Jeff Hafley’s defense.
Sean Rhyan, OL
With Jordan Morgan sidelined with a shoulder injury, Rhyan has a shot to showcase why he should still be considered for the starting right guard spot. Given his background of playing offensive tackle (at UCLA) and Green Bay’s clear lack of depth behind Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, it would not be surprising to see the former Bruin get some reps outside against the Browns.