GREEN BAY – The Packers opened the final week of training camp with a spirited, full-pads practice Monday at Nitschke Field.
Here are five things learned from the workout:
1. LB Edgerrin Cooper was all over the place.
Packers TE Tucker Kraft had been practically unstoppable since returning to 11-on-11 work in practice, until Cooper made things difficult for him Monday.
The third-year linebacker broke up a short pass for Kraft and then later just missed what would've been a pick-six when he jumped another quick route. QB Jordan Love's pass appeared to go right through Cooper's hands as he cut in front of Kraft.
But Cooper was making things happen in the run game, too, getting into the backfield at least twice for potential tackles for loss against RB MarShawn Lloyd.
All the anticipation and fast first steps are perhaps a sign of growing comfort for Cooper within new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon's scheme, and with veteran Zaire Franklin as his new running mate at linebacker.
Speaking about that acclimation process earlier in camp, linebackers coach Sam Siefkes said it was coming along but needed more time.
"They're all learning how to play off of one another," he said. "It's the first year in a new system and obviously Z's a new player for us as well. But I think they're learning when you can quote-unquote take a shot and cover for a guy and when you can do different things. You start to understand the tendencies of the players that you're playing with."
That seems to be taking place.
2. CB Keisean Nixon and S Kitan Oladapo shined in the secondary.
Nixon, who has been battling all camp to keep his starting job, had arguably his best day of camp thus far. He ended the two-minute drill between the first units by intercepting Love's somewhat desperation pass for WR Bo Melton on fourth-and-10.
Not long after, he ran stride-for-stride with Melton on a deep ball, keeping perfect inside leverage to prevent the receiver from getting near the ball. He also forced a deep ball throwaway with good coverage on WR Matthew Golden along the same sideline.
Later, Oladapo made a leaping interception of QB Kyle McCord, using all of his 6-2 frame and an impressive vertical jump to snare a lofted pass on a flat route. He had a similar INT during Sunday's closed practice as well.
"That one, I probably got higher yesterday, I'm not going to lie," said Oladapo, who has been rotating with Kamal Hadden as the nickel/slot corner with the first-team defense while Javon Bullard heals from a foot injury. "I'm just glad to make the most of my opportunities."
One other standout play in pass coverage – CB Carrington Valentine stopped the second-team offense's two-minute drive with a breakup of a third-and-2 slant pass for WR Will Sheppard. That sent out rookie K Trey Smack on fourth down for a 60-yard field goal, which he hit.
3. Things got testy as tempers flared a little.
A bit of a scrum broke out when Golden and EDGE Barryn Sorrell started jawing and pushing after a play. A mass of players converged and more shoving ensued, creating the only incident that could be construed as a fight in camp.
Strangely, Golden and Sorrell are locker neighbors and former college teammates at Texas, so the rest of the team might've overreacted to what occurred.
"Things happen. Emotions get high," Sorrell said. "Got into it a little bit. That's my boy. I'm his boy. We're still cool. It's football.
"You know how it is when you've got a little, a brother-type thing. Me and Matt are always getting into it. It's just how our relationship is. Today it got out on the football (field) a little bit and everybody thought we were like so serious. The whole time we were joking around a little bit. Like I said, it's football. It's how it gets. It's fun."
That said, the players aren't going to mind practicing against another team on Wednesday when the Cardinals come to town. They feel they've practiced against themselves enough.
The defense's intensity was on display when the reserve unit stoned a running play at the goal line, and their entire sideline was letting the offense hear it.
"It's definitely getting time to hit somebody else," Sorrell said. "We've been hitting each other for so long. It's just how it gets when you're seeing the same person every single day. Once again, it's football. It's part of it."
4. The injury list has changed considerably coming out of the Denver game.
The following players are new to the injury list and did not practice Monday: CB Benjamin St-Juste (hamstring), DT Warren Brinson (calf), WR Savion Williams (ankle), EDGEs Collin Oliver (calf) and Arron Mosby (illness), and TE Thomas Yassmin (knee).
Also, CB Brandon Cisse (knee) and WR J. Michael Sturdivant (concussion protocol) left last Friday's game but were back on the practice field. WR Jayden Reed returned after missing the Denver trip due to a personal matter, and OL Darian Kinnard (ankle) returned to practice after being out since the Pittsburgh game.
Meanwhile, RB Josh Jacobs took his first 11-on-11 snaps of training camp and is on a limited rep count coming off his groin injury.
5. The LaFleur brothers coaching in a joint practice will be "a pretty cool experience."
Matt LaFleur's younger brother Mike is the head coach of the Cardinals, who will practice with the Packers on Wednesday prior to Friday night's preseason finale.
Matt's looking forward to the family get-together, which will include a dinner involving both coaching staffs after Wednesday's practice. But the older brother couldn't resist needling the younger one about how the preparations for the practice have transpired. The two talked via phone Sunday night.
"He's quick to criticize everything that I put on the schedule," Matt said, mostly with a straight face. "So, he's like, 'Why are we doing this? Why are we doing that? We never do this.' And I was like, 'All right, Mike, you've got all the answers.'
"Nah, it's been healthy, it's been good. There's been give and take on both sides for sure."
What will the brothers do if any fights break out during the joint practice? LaFleur joked the players can tag in the coaches.
"We'll throw down on the 50," he joked.
