GREEN BAY – The Packers conducted their annual Family Night practice on Saturday in front of 59,175 at Lambeau Field.
Here are five takeaways from the evening:
- Safety Omar Brown was the star of the show.
The first-year defensive back, who spent his rookie season on the Packers' practice squad, intercepted three passes with the reserve defensive units – two against QB Malik Willis and one off of Taylor Elgersma – to boost his camp total to a team-leading five.
His first pick came near the goal line in red-zone work as he dropped into zone coverage and Willis didn't appear to see him. On the second, he was in the right place at the right time as Elgersma's pass over the middle was deflected and Brown corralled it before it hit the ground.
The third was probably the most impressive, as Willis tried to hit Julian Hicks on a deep corner route, and Brown skied for the ball near the boundary and hauled it in while crashing to the turf.
"He's making plays," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said afterward. "You want to see how guys respond and react when they get those opportunities, and he's coming through, so that's really positive."
Safety is a crowded position to crack, led by All-Pro Xavier McKinney, three draft picks from last year, plus veteran Zayne Anderson, among others, but Brown is doing everything he can to get noticed.
He was on Green Bay's radar last year during the draft process, making a pre-draft visit here, but he ultimately signed as an undrafted free agent with Denver. When he didn't make the Broncos' squad, the Packers offered him a spot on the practice squad late last August.
"To get him engrained in our system and to watch him develop, grow and develop, has been pretty exciting," LaFleur said.
- The defense had a couple other interceptions, too.
The defense had the edge for most of the night, also getting INTs from cornerbacks Kalen King and Carrington Valentine.
King, a seventh-round pick last year who like Brown spent his rookie year on the practice squad, read a deep out route by Hicks and jumped it, making the play when Willis was a little late delivering the pass.
Valentine picked off QB Jordan Love on a seam ball intended for rookie receiver Matthew Golden that Love overthrew against Valentine's tight coverage. Golden pulled up, and Valentine kept going, reaching to make a low, fingertip grab just before the ball hit the ground.
It was Valentine's fourth interception of camp, putting him right behind Brown for the team lead.
"Another guy that's making the most of his opportunities," LaFleur said of Valentine, who's currently the No. 3 corner behind Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs, the latter of whom sat out Family Night with a knee injury. "I love how he competes and he's done it from Day 1. He's really invested the time into this thing. He's transformed his body as well.
"Really excited about what he's been able to do and really excited to see him throughout the course of the preseason."
- Other players continued their strong starts to camp.
Offensively, Golden and Romeo Doubs made their share of catches, while tight ends Luke Musgrave and John FitzPatrick were productive on routes underneath and in the flat.
On defense, Lukas Van Ness had a "sack" of Love, rookie Warren Brinson got a pressure working with the first unit while fellow rookie Barryn Sorrell got a sack against Willis, and Brenton Cox Jr. showed up against the run some more.
- Running back Emanuel Wilson avoided a significant injury.
Wilson did not practice Saturday night after leaving Friday's practice when he fell awkwardly trying to make a difficult catch downfield. He was seen clutching his knee initially and then he walked off under his own power.
LaFleur didn't get into specifics about the injury, but the update was good news.
"It was extremely scary, but I feel like we dodged that one," he said.
Tight end Tucker Kraft was the other newcomer to the injury list, resting due to a groin issue. LaFleur said he'd been trying to fight through it and it was decided to give him some time off.
- Kicker Brandon McManus remains hot.
Kicking in Lambeau Field for this first time this summer, McManus stayed in a groove, going 8-for-8 on field goals with his three longest makes from 50, 51 and 54 yards.
Kicking every other day, McManus has missed just one kick through the first nine practices of camp and is now 36-for-37.
"I don't want to jinx anything here," LaFleur said. "I'd rather not say too much about him, but he's been pretty consistent."
