The Green Bay Packers won’t have their first padded practice until Monday.
They won’t have a preseason game until Aug. 13.
The Packers have had three practices, though, and a lot has happened. Here are some early takeaways as Green Bay gets ready for practice No. 4 Sunday at 10:30 a.m. (CST).
IMPROVED CORNERBACK ROOM
Ever since Jaire Alexander’s career tanked in 2023, the Packers have had issues at cornerback. Green Bay may be improved in that area, though.
A year ago, the Packers had just seven interceptions, which tied for the fewest in franchise history. Green Bay also finished 20th in opponent passer rating at 92.7.
The Packers added free agent Benjamin St-Juste and drafted Brandon Cisse in the second round this offseason. Both are off to fast starts in camp and should have a chance to unseat incumbent Carrington Valentine.
While Valentine has had a respectable start to camp, the Packers might have found better options.
At 6-foot-3, St-Juste has cornerback size that coaches dream of. He ran a 4.51 coming out of Minnesota in 2021 and is remarkably bright.
St-Juste had arguably his best season as a part-time player with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. Green Bay believed St-Juste has the ability to start, though, and he showed that Friday with a pick-six against backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
“I’m very versatile, with size,” St-Juste said. “ 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.”
Cisse is 5-11 ½, 189 pounds and didn’t turn 21 until July 3. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds at his pro day.
Despite his youth, Cisse could help immediately. He’s gotten some work with the No. 1 defense, made a handful of plays and shown the moment isn’t too big for him.
“Every day I'm working to get better,” Cisse said. “I'm nowhere near as great of a player as I want to be. I never think I'll be as great as I want to be. It's always just working and working.”
The increased competition has forced holdover Carrington Valentine to up his game — and he’s done just that. Valentine, who’s had tackling issues, had a strong practice Friday with a pair of passes defensed.
Veteran Keisean Nixon seems safe as one starter. If Valentine holds off St-Juste and Cisse, that likely means he’ll be improved from last season.
“Always view myself as a starter, and I know I have the utmost most confidence in myself and ability what I can do,” Valentine said. “No matter what happens, how I approach the game is from a starter's lens, and I've always done that from my rookie year to now.”
CAN ANYONE GET HOME?
The Packers will likely be without star defensive end Micah Parsons for at least the first month of the season. Green Bay’s No. 1 issue in that time will be generating enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Lukas Van Ness, Green Bay’s first round draft pick in 2023, has just 8.5 career sacks. Barryn Sorrell, who’s lined up opposite Van Ness as the second starting defensive end, has had a quiet start to camp. Collin Oliver was injured most of 2025, while rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton has a lot to learn.
Green Bay will need interior pressure from Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper figures to rush more than he did last season, while Zaire Franklin — who has 10 sacks since 2022 — is an underrated pass rusher.
Right now, though, it appears coordinator Jonathan Gannon will have to be extremely creative when trying to generate pressure.
“I'm not afraid to try some things out … and see what they can do and see what they're comfortable with,” Gannon said.
DEPTH ISN’T GREAT
Green Bay had one of the deeper rosters in football the last two seasons. After suffering a bevy of free agent losses and having just six draft picks, the Packers’ depth isn't as strong.
Green Bay’s top three wide receivers — Christian Watson, Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed — could be special. The rest of the group has a lot to prove.
No. 2 quarterback Tyrod Taylor can’t hold a candle to Malik Willis, the backup in 2024-25. There are also several questions at No. 2 tight end, No. 2 running back, and with the backups on the offensive line.
Injuries are inevitable, and the Packers have been in the upper half of the NFL in games missed due to injury for three straight seasons. So when the injuries hit in 2026, will Green Bay be ready?
GOLDEN TICKET
Matthew Golden, the Packers’ first round draft pick in 2025, had a sensational training camp last summer. Surprisingly, though, Golden had a quiet rookie year, with 29 catches for 361 yards and no touchdowns in the regular season.
Golden is off to another hot start, making several big plays on the second and third days of camp. Golden, who ran a 4.29-second 40-yard dash coming out of Texas, is much more than just a deep threat. He runs the full route tree and has no qualms working the middle of the field.
Is Golden ready to break out?
“Man, a lot of confidence,” Golden said of his start. “I know I can do a lot of good things. Like I said, whenever my number’s called, I know I’m going to be able to perform, put my best foot forward, and just go out there and attack.”
WAIT AND SEE
The Packers have tried Anders Carlson, Brayden Narveson, Brandon McManus and Lucas Havrisik at kicker since moving on from career scoring leader Mason Crosby after the 2022 season.
They’ve had several other camp legs battling for the job, as well.
Rookie sixth round draft pick Trey Smack is the only kicker in camp after Green Bay cut Lenny Krieg last week. Smack hasn't been able to attempt any field goals against a live defense, though, because long snapper Matt Orzech is out with a calf injury.
Green Bay signed veteran long snapper Cal Adomitis Friday, so Smack should start getting more work this week.
Whether or not he’s the right man for the job remains to be seen.
“As we know with all positions, but particularly kickers, it can take some time to become a great kicker in this league,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “We really like Trey, we really like what he’s made of and we’ll kind of see how it goes, but we’re really optimistic that he has a chance to be one of those guys.”