The Green Bay Packers opened the preseason on Saturday night against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field. Coach Matt LaFleur gave 30 veteran players the night off, providing plenty of opportunities for young players to get on the field and play valuable snaps.
Here are a few things to know from the snap counts in the opener:
– Jordan Love played 28 snaps in the first half before departing. Kurt Benkert took the 26 snaps in the second half.
– Veteran receiver Devin Funchess played into the second half and finished with 34 snaps, the second-most at receiver behind Malik Taylor (34). Both are competing for a roster spot.
– Yosh Nijman started at left tackle and played all 54 snaps. His big negative play was giving up the edge on the strip-sack. The Packers got a long look at Nijman, who is in his third season in Green Bay.
– Veterans Lucas Patrick, Dennis Kelly and Jon Runyan played 28 snaps in the first half. Runyan got 13 snaps at center after rookie Josh Myers played the first 15 of the contest.
– Rookie cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles played 32 snaps in the slot, by far the most among defensive players.
– The running back snaps: Kylin Hill (23), Patrick Taylor (15), Dexter Williams (10), A.J. Dillon (6). Hill was the first running back up after Dillon departed.
– Five defensive players played more than 60 percent of the defense’s snaps: Vernon Scott (85%), Willington Previlon (79), Kabion Ento (75), Josh Jackson (61) and TJ Slaton (61).
– Ray Wilborn and Innis Gaines led the team in special teams snaps (17).
– Krys Barnes and Eric Stokes, two potential starters on defense, played 13 snaps before departing. Chandon Sullivan played only seven snaps.
– Only four receivers ran more than 10 routes in the passing game: Funchess, Taylor, Amari Rodgers and Reggie Begelton.
– Snaps at left tackle: Nijman 54
– Snaps at left guard: Ben Braden 39, Runyan 15
– Snaps at center: Jake Hanson 26, Myers 15, Runyan 13
– Snaps at right guard: Lucas Patrick 28, Royce Newman 26
– Snaps at right tackle: Dennis Kelly 28, Cole Van Lanen 26
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