Training camp has hit a familiar snag in Green Bay as one position group is getting decimated by injuries.
Heading into Friday’s eighth camp practice, the Packers are especially thin at wide receiver. With a showcase Family Night looming at Lambeau Field, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the team will scale things back to preserve bodies and energy.
“We better,” LaFleur told Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber when asked if there were enough healthy receivers to even practice.
LaFleur Pulls Back the Throttle
LaFleur confirmed Friday’s practice would be shorter than usual—just three team periods, no pads, and roughly 80 minutes in total.
“We only have three team periods, so it’s not going to be a long one,” he said. “Some of it will be down in the red area… We have enough tight ends and backs and other positions to make it work.”
Receiver Depth Is Tested
While Green Bay came into camp with 11 receivers—by design, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst—that number is quickly shrinking.
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Christian Watson remains on the PUP list.
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Dontayvion Wicks returned from a calf injury but didn’t finish practice.
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Jayden Reed exited Thursday with a foot issue that LaFleur said is “nothing long-term.”
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Savion Williams, the rookie third-rounder recovering from a concussion, was limited to individual drills.
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Sam Brown left late during Thursday’s session and may be dealing with an undisclosed injury.
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Malik Heath appeared to fight through a leg issue but stayed on the field.
With key names sidelined, the reps have shifted heavily toward Romeo Doubs, first-rounder Matthew Golden, and Heath. Two-tight-end looks with Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave became more frequent, helping balance the workload.
Next Man Up
Thursday saw strong performances from depth receivers including Julian Hicks and Cornelius Johnson, both of whom were on the practice squad last season. Undrafted rookie Will Sheppard, signed just before camp, also continued to flash.
“All those guys have had moments where they have played and made plays,” LaFleur said. “They’ll get a ton of reps. Once we get into these preseason games, these guys are going to get a lot of time.”
Sam Brown’s Steady Rise
Despite his recent exit, Brown has been a standout in camp. The former Miami and Houston receiver knows how to compete in stacked WR rooms.
“You just got to work for it,” he said earlier in the week. “That’s pretty much what I’ve been doing, just trying to be consistent every day.”
Waiting on Savion Williams
It’s been a tough start for the rookie from TCU. After recovering from offseason labrum surgery, Williams is still limited to walkthroughs and individual drills.
“We’ve got to get him out there,” LaFleur said. “It’s hard to get rolling when you’re not available… but he’s demonstrated that he knows what’s going on.”
Looking Ahead to Family Night
With Lambeau Field set to host one of the Packers’ biggest fan events on Saturday, expect reps to be tightly managed. While the WR group remains a concern, LaFleur and staff are finding ways to adapt—and Friday’s scaled-down session is part of that plan.
Even with bodies down, Green Bay’s camp remains competitive—and for the young wideouts, opportunity knocks.