GREEN BAY – The Packers hosted the Arizona Cardinals for a spirited joint practice at Ray Nitschke Field on Wednesday, Green Bay's final public practice of training camp.
Here are five things we learned:
1. Tucker Kraft got what he wanted out of a hard-hitting, spirited practice.
The Packers' tight end made it known after he was activated off the physically unable to perform list on July 31 that his goal was to be cleared for full participation in the team's joint practice.
Kraft cleared that hurdle in a physical way on Wednesday as he was banging pads with every Arizona defender who came into his path during the two-hour, 14-minute practice.
It started with Kraft exchanging words with Cardinals safety Andrew Wingard after the two collided while the Green Bay tight end finished to the end zone in an early red-zone period.
Later, Kraft converted a fourth down in the final two-minute period against the Cardinals' starting defense only to be on the receiving end of a late hit along Arizona's sideline, drawing a personal foul.
Unlikely to play in Friday's preseason finale against the Cardinals, Kraft looked at the joint practice as a key checkpoint in his return from the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered last November against Carolina.
"I was smiling. That was a good hit," said Kraft afterwards. "I haven't had a hit like that since Nov. 2 (vs. the Panthers). That was an opportunity for me right there to wake up, season's here."
The 6-foot-5, 259-pound tight end said he no longer thinks about the knee. Instead, Kraft's focus is on his footwork and fundamentals in preparation for the Packers' regular-season opener against Minnesota on Sept. 13.
Kraft doesn't see himself on a rep count, either.
"I felt free out there today," Kraft said. "I've gotten to the point now with my attitude for my health now where I feel good and I'm confident where I'm going to stay out there and you guys take me out when I need to come out, when I'm tired. If not, I'm not doing the rep count stuff anymore. You can pull me off the field. I'm gonna try to be out there as much as I can."
The only question now is whether Kraft and the Packers come to a long-term agreement on a contract extension prior to the start of the regular season. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, the fourth-year tight end remains hopeful.
"The people in charge of my contract know what I bring to the table and they appreciate me very much and we're gonna continue to work closer to finalizing the details on that contract," Kraft said.
"I would say we're on the same page that we'd like to get it done as soon as possible, prior to Week 1 for sure. We'd love to get that done."
2. Jordan Love and the Packers' offense was dealing early.
Green Bay's starting quarterback opened the first team period 8-for-10, which included one of the biggest plays of training camp when he hit receiver Matthew Golden for a 45-yard touchdown.
Golden got a step on both safety Budda Baker and cornerback Denzel Burke and Love put the pass right on the money. Golden looked the pass in over his shoulder and maintained the catch to the ground to a roar from the fans at Nitschke Field.
"It was a really well-designed play that we had dialed up," Love said. "Budda was kind of playing the post and he started pushing to the left and it really opened up the hole for MG. MG ran a great route and I just put it out there. He did a great job just kind of being able to go down with the ball, secure the catch with two guys closing in on him."
On the next play, Love fired back with a crosser to Jayden Reed through a tight window. If not for a drop and a possible defensive pass interference penalty against Bo Melton, there's a chance Love would've went 10-for-10 to open the day.
Momentum turned to Arizona's favor towards the end of practice, with the Cardinals' No. 1 defense stymying Green Bay at the 5-yard line. Golden dropped a pass in the back of the end zone on third down before a sack ended the drill.
"I think that was the kind of lowest point of the day was just (the) finish," Love said. "And I think in training camp, the joint practices, I think it gets a little chippy, things happen, emotions start running a little higher. So, we got to find ways to be able to just dial back in, focus back in and be able to finish a practice."
3. The Melton Bowl set the tone for practice.
The Packers and Cardinals opened practice with a 1-on-1 rep between Packers receiver Bo Melton and his young brother Max, a third-year cornerback for the Cardinals.
Big brother won the rep, beating Max on an inside slant to a loud ovation from the Packers' offense.
"I was already saying that – like could we go like 40 yards out and make it a real 1-on-1," said Bo, who also had a couple catches on out routes against other Cardinals DBs in team.
"They were like, 'Nah, let's make it eight yards.' It's a slant or fade. That's the only two routes you can run. Everybody wants to see me jump up and catch a (fade). I'm not doing that. I'm finna win. It was funny, though."
Bo and Max played together for two seasons at Rutgers before Bo was drafted in the seventh round by Seattle in 2022. Max is a former second-round pick for Arizona and played against his brother and the Packers as a rookie in 2024.
"I never take it for granted," Max said. "Just come out here and compete the same way. Obviously, it's way more fun when you have your brother in here with it. So, seeing him make plays, I'm making plays out here, it's a great feeling."
4. Brandon Cisse and Kitan Oladapo started the pick party.
After snagging interceptions on Sunday and Monday, Oladapo completed the hat trick when he picked off Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew after his receiver fell down.
"They didn't tell 'em about them seven studs (cleats)," said Oladapo, who's been rotating at nickel cornerback and safety. "I felt the shoulders going inside. I just cut it off on the inside and he threw it."
Oladapo also helped generate a Murvin Kenion III interception after breaking up a pass intended for Cardinals receiver Jalen Brooks.
Rookie second-round pick Brandon Cisse got things kicked off for the defense when he jumped a Jacoby Brissett pass to the sideline on third down and took it all the way to the end zone.
"Obviously just saw the ball come out, happened to get out of my break and just tried to go make an exceptional play," Cisse said. "I hold myself to a high standard. Those aren't easy plays to make, but those are plays that I really wanna make a lot of. It's a lot more room to grow, so I'm excited for it."
There was a learning moment for Cisse later in practice, though, as Brisset and Marvin Harrison Jr. connected on a goal-line fade for a 1-yard touchdown to end two-minute against the No. 1 defense.
5. Javon Bullard and Benjamin St-Juste returned to practice.
Bullard participated in the early individual period of practice, his first on-field work since bruising his foot in practice on Aug. 9.
Oladapo and cornerback Kamal Hadden continued to rotate in Bullard's nickel spot in team periods.
St-Juste (hamstring) and edge rusher Arron Mosby (illness) were both back after missing Monday's practice.
