The Green Bay Packers will start 2020 training camp on Tuesday, July 28th, although camp will look much different this year as NFL teams attempt to navigate through the challenges presented by the on-going coronavirus pandemic.
Here’s everything new with Matt LaFleur’s team entering training camp:
Additions
LB Christian Kirksey (No. 58): Cut by the Browns, Kirksey signed a two-year deal with the Packers in March. The six-year veteran will take over as the team’s top inside linebacker. While he missed 23 games the last two seasons to injury, Kirksey played all 64 games during his first four NFL seasons and was a productive starter. He also played two years under Mike Pettine.
RT Rick Wagner (No. 71): The Wisconsin native and former Badger also signed a two-year deal. He was cut by the Lions after an injury-riddled and disappointing 2019 season. An 87-game NFL starter, Wagner is the favorite to start at right tackle.
WR Devin Funchess (No. 11): The former Panther and Colt signed a one-year deal loaded with incentives. He missed all but one game last season after injuring his shoulder in Week 1. Over four years in Carolina, Funchess caught 21 touchdown passes, including a career-high eight scores in 2017.
DL Treyvon Hester (No. 93): The fourth-year veteran has played games with three different teams since 2017. He has 41 games of NFL experience. His most productive season came in 2018 with the Eagles.
WR Reggie Begelton (No. 84): The CFL star arrives in Green Bay after catching 102 passes for 1,444 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Calgary Stampeders in 2019.
CB DaShaun Amos (No. 41): The East Carolina product registered five interceptions during a standout 2019 season with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL. He played both safety and cornerback over 49 career games in college.
FB Elijah Wellman (No. 46): He was with Washington for parts of both the 2018 and 2019 seasons before signing with the Packers in January. Undrafted out of West Virginia, he played in 51 career collegiate games.
Departures
RT Bryan Bulaga: The offensive line’s long-time starter at right tackle signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, reuniting with former Packers offensive line coach James Campen.
LB Blake Martinez: The team’s tackle leader the last three seasons left to sign with the New York Giants.
TE Jimmy Graham: Brian Gutekunst’s first major signing was released after two underwhelming seasons, eventually signing with the Chicago Bears.
CB Tramon Williams: The team’s primary slot cornerback in 2019 remains unsigned.
OLB Kyler Fackrell: A rotational rusher for the Packers in 2019, he followed Martinez to the Giants.
WR Geronimo Allison: The former undrafted free agent signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions after a disappointing season in the slot in 2019.
OT Jared Veldheer: He remains unsigned despite a valuable finish to last season as a veteran backup to Bulaga.
FB Danny Vitale: The versatile fullback left Green Bay for a chance to play for Bill Belichick in New England.
LB B.J. Goodson: After one season of playing mostly on run downs for the Packers defense, he left for a new opportunity with the Cleveland Browns.
OT Jason Spriggs: The Bears were willing to give the 2016 second-round pick a chance to revive a fading career.
S Ibraheim Campbell: The versatile defensive back signed with the Tennessee Titans.
QB Manny Watkins: The Packers cut last year’s practice squad quarterback following the draft.
Draft picks
1.26: QB Jordan Love, Utah State
2.62: RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College
3.94: TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati
5.175: LB Kamal Martin, Minnesota
6.192: OL Jon Runyan, Michigan
6.208: C Jake Hanson, Oregon
6.209: OL Simon Stepaniak, Indiana
7.236: S Vernon Scott, TCU
7.242: OLB Jonathan Garvin, Miami
Notes: The draft class, headlined by Love, wasn’t well-received by national media and analysts. The Packers traded up in the first round for the quarterback of the future and added ancillary pieces on offense on Day 2 without addressing any of the team’s most pressing needs. This was very much a draft class designed for the future. In fact, it might not provide much of any immediate impact in 2020.
Coaching changes
Defensive backs coach: Former NFL defensive back and long-time coach Jerry Gray replaced Jason Simmons, who departed for Carolina.
Receivers coach: Jason Vrable, an offensive assistant last year, replaced Alvis Whitted, who was let go.
Senior analyst: Butch Barry joined the staff after spending last year with the Miami Hurricanes.
Passing game coordinator: Quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy added passing game coordinator to his list of titles.
Coaching assistant: Former Packers receiver Ruvell Martin was added as a minority fellowship assistant.
Offensive quality control: Connor Lewis was added as an assistant after spending the last four years in the football technology department.
Undrafted free agents
LB Krys Barnes, UCLA
S Henry Black, Baylor
T Travis Bruffy, Texas Tech
CB Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Montreal
OLB Tipa Galeai, Utah State
S Frankie Griffin, Texas State
G Zack Johnson, North Dakota State
FB Jordan Jones, Prairie View A&M
QB Jalen Morton, Prairie View A&M
DL Willington Previlon, Rutgers
CB Stanford Samuels, Florida State
OLB Delontae Scott, SMU
WR Darrell Stewart, Michigan State
CB Will Sunderland, Troy
RB Patrick Taylor, Memphis
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