Packers Catch-Up: Camp Battles, Big Extensions, and a Preseason Opener in Pittsburgh

It’s been a while. The last time we checked in, OTAs were just getting started and the 2026 schedule had barely been printed. Since then the Packers have wrapped minicamp, handed out three contract extensions, opened training camp, put their best pass rusher on PUP, played Family Night in front of a packed Lambeau — and now they’re on a plane to Pittsburgh.

Tomorrow night is the preseason opener, and it comes with a storyline nobody could have scripted. Let’s catch up.

Minicamp Closed the Offseason on a Defensive Note

Mandatory minicamp ran June 9–11 and, per Packers.com’s daily recaps, it belonged to the defense.

Lukas Van Ness had a day. Per Acme Packing Company, Van Ness was the star of Day 1 — which matters more than usual given how long Micah Parsons is likely to be out. Van Ness said new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s scheme is “allowing us to play free without thinking.” That’s the quote you want to hear from a pass rusher in June.

Javon Bullard’s interception. On Day 2, the nickel corner read a Jordan Love throw intended for Christian Watson on a corner route, timed his jump perfectly, and completed the pick on his back.

Edgerrin Cooper closed it out. Per Packers.com, Cooper spent Day 3 living in the backfield, and the defense won the first competitive two-minute period of 2026.

Tucker Kraft’s update. Per Acme Packing Company, Kraft said he expects to play Week 1 and doesn’t believe he’ll be on a snap count. Seventeen players were still sidelined at minicamp, including three tight ends — so that news landed well.

The Money: Three Extensions in Six Weeks

Brian Gutekunst spent the summer locking up his own guys.

Christian Watson — four years. Per Packers News, the Packers agreed to an extension with Watson in early June, a four-year deal with a base value around $92 million that can climb higher with incentives. Not bad for a receiver who was still rehabbing a torn ACL when the pen hit the paper. Watson said the deal “only further fuels” him.

Isaiah McDuffie — one-year extension. Per Packers.com, the Packers signed McDuffie on July 13 to an extension running through 2027, worth roughly $8.8 million over the next two seasons plus playing-time incentives.

Devonte Wyatt — three years, $57 million. Per Packers News and the Associated Press, Wyatt agreed on July 20 to a three-year extension worth $57 million with a $20 million signing bonus. Green Bay’s interior defensive line is now very well paid, and very much the plan.

Add in Jayden Reed’s three-year, $50.25 million extension from the spring, and the Packers have committed serious long-term money to the core of this roster.

Micah Parsons Starts Camp on PUP

The biggest question of the summer has an answer, and it isn’t the one anyone wanted.

Parsons tore his left ACL in Week 15 last season against Denver on Dec. 14 and had surgery on Dec. 30. Per NBC Sports, the Packers placed him on the physically unable to perform list on July 28. Starting camp on PUP means he will miss at least the first four regular-season games.

The optimistic read, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman (via Yahoo Sports): the timeline points toward a possible return for the Week 6 Sunday Night Football matchup against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, at Lambeau. Under the current rules he can also return to practice after Week 2 without counting against the 53-man roster, which gives Green Bay a real ramp-up window instead of a cold start.

Until then, this defense belongs to Van Ness, Cooper, and whatever Gannon can scheme up.

Camp Battles Worth Watching

Cornerback opposite Keisean Nixon. Nixon is CB1 after a career-high 17 passes defensed and his first Pro Bowl last season. The other spot is genuinely open. Per Pro Football Rumors, rookie Brandon Cisse — Green Bay’s first pick in the 2026 draft — is competing directly with Carrington Valentine for the starting job, and Cisse has already earned first-team looks less than a week into camp.

Kicker, sort of. What was supposed to be a three-way competition has become a solo act. Per Packers.com and Yahoo Sports, Green Bay released Lucas Havrisik, signed Lenny Krieg, then released Krieg too — leaving sixth-round rookie Trey Smack as the only kicker in camp. Smack started camp 8-for-13 on field goals, which is not exactly a mandate. He set Florida’s career record with 10 made field goals from 50-plus yards, so the leg is real. The consistency is the question.

Right guard. Jacob Monk, a 2024 fifth-round pick out of Duke, has an opening to start at right guard.

Family Night: 57,411 Fans and a Sloppy, Useful Night

The Packers held their 25th annual Family Night on Aug. 7 in front of 57,411 people at Lambeau Field. Per Packers.com, it was the longest practice of camp — more than two hours on a humid night — and the play was choppy, with too many penalties and drops.

The highlights, though:

Matthew Golden stole the show. The second-year receiver has been arguably the standout of the entire camp.
Trey Smack kicked under the Lambeau lights for the first time, going 6-for-7 with his only miss a 51-yarder wide left.
Brandon Cisse looked the part again.
Savion Williams hauled in a touchdown from Tyrod Taylor and added a sideline grab in the closing two-minute drill.
Real officials. Referee Shawn Hochuli and his crew worked the practice — the first time in Matt LaFleur’s tenure that NFL officials have monitored a Packers practice.

The Injury Report Heading Into Pittsburgh

Per ESPN and Sports Illustrated’s camp coverage:

Josh Jacobs (groin) — out at least this week. LaFleur confirmed he won’t play in Pittsburgh. Not believed to be serious.
Matthew Golden (toe) and Jayden Reed (ankle) — both missed time and have returned to practice.
Tucker Kraft (knee) — back at practice but not yet in 11-on-11 work.
Luke Musgrave (neck) — on PUP. Gutekunst said the team isn’t sure of the severity.
Edgerrin Cooper (foot), Josh Whyle (neck) — banged up.
Devonte Wyatt — took 11-on-11 reps in full pads for the first time on Aug. 10, on a limited snap count.

Tomorrow: Packers at Steelers — and Yes, That Reunion

Thursday, Aug. 13 — 6 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. Brasília time, at Acrisure Stadium. Per Packers.com, the game airs on the Packers TV Network. It’s Green Bay’s first preseason meeting with Pittsburgh since 2018 and their first in Pittsburgh since 2015.

And on the other sideline: Mike McCarthy, now the Steelers’ head coach, with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Rodgers signed a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh, and per ESPN he has said there’s “zero debate” that 2026 is his final season. He also said McCarthy wants him to play “30 or 40 plays” this preseason. If both coaches follow through, Lambeau’s two most familiar faces of the last two decades will be on the field together in an August exhibition game.

LaFleur is playing his starters. Per Packers News, Jordan Love is expected to play a series or two, with the same plan for the Denver game next week. LaFleur’s reasoning is data, not sentiment: players who get at least 30 preseason snaps are roughly three times less likely to get hurt early in the regular season. His message to the roster was blunt — “Anybody that’s healthy better be ready to play.”

The rest of the preseason: at Denver on Friday, Aug. 21, and home against Arizona on Friday, Aug. 28. Then the real thing — at Minnesota on Sept. 13.

One More Thing for the Brazil Crowd 🇧🇷

The NFL is coming back to Brazil, and this time to Rio. Per NFL.com, the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens will play the league’s first-ever regular-season game at Maracanã Stadium on Sept. 27 — Week 3, 3:25 p.m. CT on CBS. Not our Packers this time, but the league’s Brazilian footprint keeps growing, and that’s good for all of us.

Go Pack Go. 💛💚

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