Zach Heilprin

Packers: Pair of big plays the highlight of Day 2 of training camp

The Packers were in the field for the second practice of training camp Thursday and there were a couple big plays in the passing game that stood out during team drills.

On the first pass of the session, quarterback Aaron Rodgers floated one up to wide receiver Juwann Winfree, who had gotten behind the secondary. The ball seemed to stay in the air forever before it landed in Winfree's hands for what would have been a long touchdown. A sixth-round pick by Denver in 2019, Winfree had some really good days during OTAs and has continued it the first two days of training camp.

Later, it was Rodgers and Adams hooking up on a deep ball down the left sideline. It appeared for a second that safety Darnell Savage was going to get over and make a diving interception, but somehow the ball found its way into Adams' hands for a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch. He took off for what would have also been a long gain or a score.

Rodgers took 23 reps over the course of the practice in team drills, going 9-for-15. His only real miss came on a miscommunication with Adams, while the only ball that came close to getting intercepted was on an out to tight end Jace Sternberger. Cornerback Jaire Alexander got his fingertips on it but it was too high for him to pull in.

Backup Jordan Love got 19 snaps working with the second- and third-team units. He went 5-for-9, with his best throw probably being his first of the day when he tossed a dart over the middle to Devin Funchess for a nice gain. Love did throw the first interception of camp, sailing a pass by his intended receiver into the hands of linebacker Ty Summers.

* Randall Cobb was wearing someone else's helmet and cleats, but he was on the field for his first practice since being traded to Green Bay from Houston. Cobb, who spent his first eight years in the NFL with the Packers, didn't see any time in team drills, but did do individual work. It's worth noting that Rodgers made sure to be the quarterback on each of Cobb's reps.

https://twitter.com/ZachHeilprin/status/1420774848662491139

* David Bakhtiari is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, so it caught some folks off-guard when a tall guy with hair flowing out of his helmet took the field wearing the No. 69 jersey with Bakhtiari on the back. It became clear pretty quickly it wasn't the All-Pro left tackle but instead the newly signed Dennis Kelly.

Kelly and Bakhtiari do look like family, even if the former is several inches taller than the latter.

https://twitter.com/DavidBakhtiari/status/1420879871585226752

Bakhtiari finished off the joke but coming out to the field late in practice wearing Kelly's No. 79 jersey.

* Former Wisconsin offensive linemen Cole Van Lanen and Jon Dietzen got some work with the second- and third-team groups. Van Lanen was working at left tackle, the spot he played for the Badgers. Most think, if he's going to make the roster, it'll be at one of the guard spots. Dietzen, an undrafted free agent, saw time at right guard on Thursday.

by Zach Heilprin

Packers, Adams differ on what the highest-paid WR is making

Davante Adams wants to be the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. He said as much Wednesday afternoon. Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst agrees that the 2020 All-Pro deserves to be that. So why hasn't a deal gotten done?

"It's how you interpret what the highest wide receiver in the National Football League is getting paid," Gutekunst said Thursday morning. "Certainly, I agree with him. He's definitely worth that and we believe that as well. I think there might be just a little difference in what we believe is the highest-paid wide receiver and what he might."

Adams' side will point to Deandre Hopkins as the highest-paid wide receiver in the game. When he got traded to Arizona before last season, the Cardinals gave him a contract extension that gave him two more years and $54 million of new money. His average salary is $27.25 million. That's more than $5 million more than the next highest-paid guy -- Julio Jones -- at $22 million.

"We value him. He's such a great player," Gutekunst said. "He's a warrior when he goes out there. Obviously we would like to figure something out. We'll continue to work on that as we go."

Adams has just one year left on his deal and was clearly bothered that they were unable to come to an agreement over the last few months. If the two sides can't come to a deal, the Packers could use the franchise tag on him, though their salary cap issues after this season may hinder their ability to do so.

by Zach Heilprin

Aaron Rodgers got Randall Cobb back to Green Bay and the WR is now looking to make the most of that opportunity

Randall Cobb didn't mean it as a dig at his previous team. But after spending two years away from Green Bay, one in Dallas and another in Houston, the wide receiver was clearly glad the Texans traded him to the Packers for a reported sixth-round pick.

"I can breathe again. I've seen the other side. And I'm excited to be back here," Cobb said Thursday after his first training camp practice. "I'm smiling. It's funny, my teammates are saying, 'You act like you just got out of prison.' I said, 'well, you know.' I'm very, very, very excited to be here.

"And that's nothing against Houston. Whenever I talk about that I'm thinking of Green Bay is like a Fortune 500 company and the Texans are new franchise that's a startup, figuring out their way."

Cobb hit the field Thursday with Davante Adams' arm draped over his shoulder and a huge smile on his face. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made a point of making sure he was the one throwing to Cobb during individual drills. He was wearing someone else's helmet and cleats because his hadn't arrived yet, but it all felt very familiar, as the Kentucky product returned to the place he played his first eight years in the NFL after being a second-round pick in 2011. He ranks seventh in franchise history with 470 catches, while his 5,524 yards is 12th all-time, as are his 41 receiving touchdowns.

https://twitter.com/ZachHeilprin/status/1420769556444979201

The Packers let him walk in free agency after an injury plagued 2018 season and general manager Brian Gutekunst admitted that if not for Rodgers using what the quarterback hopes is a new found role in personnel conversations, it wouldn't have happened.

“I think that is a big part of it," Gutekunst said of making the move to make Rodgers happy. "Obviously without Aaron I don’t think we would probably be pursuing that. Randall is still a really good player. Seeing him last night just reminded me what an impact he’ll have in our locker room and for our football team. But this was a very important thing for Aaron and that’s why we did it."

For Cobb, that answer brought him back to the feelings around his departure in free agency, one in which he never got a call from the Packers to potentially bring him back at a reduced salary. Instead, he signed with the Cowboys.

"We're here, I'm back and that's in the past. It's about today, it's about moving forward. It's about being the best that we can be today for this team and try to find a way to win a championship," Cobb said. "None of this stuff matters. We can talk about it all we want. There can be stories on it, can say whatever you want, but I'm going to come here I'm going to do my job. I'm going to be the best teammate I can be. I'm going to continue to be the person that I am. And hopefully I can bring some positivity and some energy around and be who I am."

Cobb admitted he got emotional as he returned, even shedding a few tears when he got into town Wednesday night. It was a moment he wasn't sure would come, though he and Rodgers spoke a lot about potentially playing together again. Cobb added that the idea of Rodgers retiring this offseason was very real and that he thought about it as well. But the two very good friends talked each other through those feelings and determined they wanted to keep going.

"Just being able to hash it out together and have an understanding of what we want to accomplish," Cobb said. "As time went on, realizing how much love we still have for this game, and situations change and opportunities arise, and I'm just glad to be a part of this opportunity that we have before us this year."

The soon-to-be 31-year-old Cobb is returning to a team that looks a little bit different in the wide receiver room. Davante Adams has ascended to be the top player at his position in the NFL. Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have both produced at a high level at times. There is a veteran in Devin Funchess and a rookie third-round pick in Amari Rodgers. Add in weapons like running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, along with a productive tight end like Robert Tonyan, and there may not be a ton of opportunities for Cobb.

"I'm a piece of this puzzle, I'm not the whole picture. I'm a very small piece," Cobb said. "I don't care about how many snaps I get, I don't care how many catches, I don't care how many yards or touchdowns. If you don't know that about me by now, I don't know what else to tell you. I'm here to win a championship for the football team. I don't care about Pro Bowls, I don't care about All-Pro, I don't care about any of those things. It's about finding a way to win a championship and doing my piece, whether it be on the field or mentoring or leadership or special teams, whatever is asked of me, I will be there and I'll do it."

by Zach Heilprin

Packers trade for WR Randall Cobb and sign veteran OL

After two years away, Randall Cobb is returning to Green Bay.

The news broke Tuesday about the Packers trading with Houston for the wide receiver. On Wednesday, Cobb and Packers confirmed he'd be coming home to the place he started his career in 2011 as a second-round pick.

https://twitter.com/rcobb18/status/1420376481621061632

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1420549455166820353

According to Tom Pellisero of the NFL Network, the Packers are sending a 2022 sixth-round pick to the Texans, who will pay $3 million of his salary. That would leave Green Bay to pick up the remaining roughly $5 million, though ESPN's Rob Demovsky is reporting the salary cap hit will only be $3 million this year for the soon-to-be 31-year-old.

"Well I'm really excited Randall is coming back," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "He's obviously a dear friend and a guy I still believe in that can really play.

"To get Randall back is really special. It's something that that I talked about back in February [with team management], wanting to bring in a true slot receiver I thought would make our offense more dynamic. And I think Randall is a dynamic player. He has been when he's been healthy."

Cobb had been in Green Bay for three seasons when Davante Adams arrived in 2014, also as a second-round pick. The two, along with Jordy Nelson, formed one of the premier wide receiver units in the NFL.

"I'm ecstatic, man," Adams said with a huge smile. "I'm just waiting on Jordy now, and we will be complete. We'll have the whole 187 back."

Cobb struggled with injuries in his final year with the Packers, playing in just nine games and catching only 38 passes. He bounced back for the most part in Dallas and Houston the last two years, playing 25 of a possible 32 games. He caught 93 passes and had six touchdowns.

"He can add a lot to this room," Adams said. "He's got a lot left in the tank, back healthy from from last year."

Packers adding veteran tackle

Green Bay's offensive line will be getting a boost in the form of tackle Dennis Kelly, according to Pelissero.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1420483357729828877

A 16-game starter last season for Tennessee, Kelly will be a valuable addition, potentially in the same way Rick Wagner was a year ago. Kelly can play right tackle, which would allow Billy Turner to play left tackle until All-Pro David Bakhtiari is ready to return from a torn ACL suffered in December. Turner lined up at right tackle during practice Wednesday, with Elgton Jenkins at left tackle. Jenkins has played every spot on the line but seems his best spot would be left guard or center.

Bakhtiari started training camp on the physically unable to perform list and there has been no timetable set on when he'll be able to return.

by Zach Heilprin