GREEN BAY – The Packers were back out on the Ray Nitschke practice field as organized team activities rolled along on Tuesday.
Here are five things learned from the workout:
- It feels a little weird for Zaire Franklin being the new guy.
The former All-Pro linebacker spent his first eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts before he was traded to Green Bay in March in exchange for defensive lineman Colby Wooden.
"Little intimidating to be honest with you," said Franklin with a smile after practice. "When I was in Indy, I was there so long. I was always the guy to kind of try to help the new guys come in and figure everything out. Now, I'm the guy that's looking for the help."
Franklin credited quarterback Jordan Love, safety Xavier McKinney, tight end Tucker Kraft and fellow linebacker Edgerrin Cooper for helping him get up to speed so quickly.
On the field, the 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker already feels at home. Franklin has schematic familiarity after working with Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon during his first two seasons in Indianapolis, where Gannon coached the Colts' defensive backs.
He's also no stranger to wearing the communication headset and serving as the quarterback of the defense after playing that role the past four seasons with the Colts.
A former seventh-round pick who became one of the faces of the franchise for Indianapolis, Franklin enjoyed a career year in 2024 when he recorded a league-high 173 tackles, five forced fumbles, 3½ sacks and two interceptions.
Enjoying his new NFL home, the 29-year-old veteran says he still has plenty "left in the tank" and he's ready to earn his opportunities every day he walks into Lambeau Field.
"I done seen a lot, I done did a lot from a late-round pick to a full-time special teamer to one of the highest paid at my position," Franklin said. "I understand what it means to try and have to make a team and prove yourself in OTAs, and I also understand what it means when a team is looking for you to lead and stand out in front and be an example both in the locker room and in the community.
"And then on the field, I'm just a dog. I ain't gonna lie to you. That's just how I like to play."
- Josh Jacobs was back at practice; Micah Parsons is back in Green Bay.
The Packers' running back has rejoined the team following his May 23 arrest for a domestic situation. Jacobs was released from custody last Thursday as county prosecutors further investigate the case and determine whether to file formal charges.
In a statement through his lawyers, Jacobs has denied the allegations.
The 28-year-old running back didn't attend the first practice open to reporters last Wednesday but was a full participant on Tuesday. He led the running backs through individual period and took first-team reps in team 11-on-11.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur said the team has discussed the matter internally. When asked if Jacobs' situation has been a distraction or business as usual, LaFleur quantified it as the latter.
"Everyone knows what the situation is there and we've talked," said quarterback Jordan Love after practice. "But obviously the details – everybody's keeping that under wraps right now just out of respect for the situation and obviously all the legal stuff that's gonna be playing out.
"But it's great to have Josh here with us, being able to work with us and get back to work. But everybody's just waiting and letting it play out on its own."
Running back Damien Martinez also returned to practice on Tuesday while receiver/returner Skyy Moore was with the rehab group after practicing in front of the media last week.
The Packers' other 13 non-participants remained the same: defensive linemen Micah Parsons, Devonte Wyatt, Jordon Riley and Jonathan Ford; offensive linemen Zach Tom, Jacob Monk and Donovan Jennings; tight ends Tucker Kraft and Drake Dabney; defensive backs Benjamin St-Juste, Domani Jackson and Kamal Hadden; and linebacker Isaiah McDuffie.
LaFleur confirmed that Parsons is back in Green Bay as the four-time All-Pro pass rusher continues his rehab from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
"He's in the building, so that was great to see him yesterday, and to see where he's at in that process," LaFleur said. "But he's been as advertised in terms of the player, and then as a leader on this football team, so I couldn't be more excited than to have a guy like that."
- MarShawn Lloyd went to California to get to the bottom of his injury issues.
Having played just one game in two NFL seasons, the Packers running back wanted to get to the root cause of the injury issues that have plagued him.
Lloyd met with Dr. John Meyer of the Meyer Institute of Sport, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and performance facility in El Segundo, Calif.
Their belief is the former third-round pick's issues may stem from the torn ACL Lloyd suffered early during his time at the University of South Carolina.
"Overcompensating, back to all the way from college, my ACL, just things that didn't get the strength they needed," Lloyd said. "I had to re-evaluate that, get my quads stronger, get my whole body stronger, honestly. I've been able to go to him, get those things figured out. It's been really good."
Green Bay put a plan together for Lloyd this offseason and it's been so far, so good. He was back in team 11-on-11 Tuesday after only doing individuals last Wednesday.
With Emanuel Wilson's departure in free agency, Lloyd wants to prove to the Packers he's capable of filling that void in the backfield.
"I know what I have to do," Lloyd said. "This is the place that I want to be. This is a great organization, like I said early on. Any other place, it would be different. For them to still believe in me and still trust in everything I can do, it just makes me want to go out there and play hard."
- Bo Melton is a receiver again…and he had himself a day.
The Packers have officially moved the third-year veteran back to his original position after trying Melton at cornerback last year.
The 5-foot-11, 189-pound receiver made two highlight plays, catching a pair of deep balls from Love in 11-on-11. On the second reception, Melton gained 10 yards of separation for what would've been a walk-in touchdown.
"It was lit," Melton said. "J-Love, he throws perfect balls. He found me down the field a couple times. Being in the league now five years, my go-to is being a deep ball guy. Him being able to find me today is great."
By Melton's own admission, last year was challenging but he gained the respect of the locker room for his willingness to give defense a shot. After the season, Melton spoke with General Manager Brian Gutekunst and LaFleur and was told the plan would be for him to play receiver in 2026.
"I don't think there's anybody in the world that's like Bo Melton," receiver Christian Watsonsaid. "Having him back in the room, I know the wide receiver room is where he wants to be. You get a better side of Bo when he's doing what he wants to do. I'm excited to have him back in the room."
- Love is enjoying being a first-time father.
The Packers' quarterback and his wife Ronika recently welcomed the birth of their daughter, Rayna.
Thanks to the efforts of the missus, Love said he's slept fairly well during the opening phases of both the Packers' offseason program and fatherhood.
"Dad life has been amazing so far," Love sad. "Ronika is doing a great job, fantastic job, of allowing me to get as much sleep as I can. Some nights, you gotta try to help out as much as I can, but she's doing a great job."
