GREEN BAY – The Packers were back out on Ray Nitschke Field on a cloudless Thursday morning for their second practice of training camp.
Here are five things learned from the workout:
1. New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is tapping into arguably his deepest position.
Known for tailoring his scheme to the strength of his personnel, Gannon has not been shy about deploying the safety trio of Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard so far.
While one of the biggest cliches in today's NFL is that five-DB nickel packages are the new base defense, that may actually prove to be the case in Green Bay given the versatility of its safety room.
When asked after Thursday's practice about the biggest difference between the defense Jeff Hafley ran the past two years and what Gannon has installed, McKinney immediately pointed to that adjustment.
"Obviously we got this three-safety look going on, which we love it right now and I think we're gonna continue to love it," McKinney said. "It's gonna progress and get better as we learn different spots. We're all able to move around and do different things. I'd say that's the biggest thing as of right now."
McKinney, Williams and Bullard were three of Green Bay's top defensive performers last year. McKinney made his second straight All-Pro team while Bullard enjoyed a breakout year playing the slot.
The only downside to having so much safety depth is that Bullard only played roughly two-thirds of the defensive snaps. With the speed at which Bullard is developing, it's only getting more difficult to keep the 2024 second-round pick off the field.
Bullard made the play of Thursday's practice when he punched the ball out of Skyy Moore's hands in the first 11-on-11 period. McKinney was nearby and quickly pounced on the loose ball.
Gannon immediately rushed over to celebrate with the third-year safety, who studied the art of generating forced fumbles closely in the offseason.
"It's definitely something that I'm trying to put in my bag, just watching guys, especially linebackers," Bullard said. "Like Fred Warner, he's a pro at it. But really just keeping your mind on the ball at all times. I gotta get the ball. We need the ball as a defense. We're trying to take the ball away at any moment. It can change games, man."
2. Keisean Nixon was happy to be back on the field.
The Packers' top cornerback returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday for precautionary reasons due to hamstring soreness. Nixon appeared to be a full participant in the 90-minute practice, jumping right back into 11-on-11.
"Feel a lot better," Nixon said. "I just woke up and my (hamstring) was tight, so I just really wanted a scan. They told me I had to chill for a day, go get a scan, so I was ready to go today."
On the heels of his first Pro Bowl season, Nixon is entering a contract year in 2026. He told reporters after practice that he's focused on football, leaving the business talks entirely to his agent, Tory Dandy, and General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
Nixon's biggest concern right now is on finding ways to build on last season when the 5-foot-10, 200-pound cornerback finished with 72 tackles, 17 passes defensed and a game-sealing interception against Chicago in Week 13.
He's also looking to cut down on the penalties that cropped up towards the end of last season, his second playing strictly perimeter cornerback.
"Just going over the film and watching the mistakes I made and just some of the dumb penalties that I gave up," Nixon said. "I feel like I had a really strong year to start it but definitely ready to prove myself again this year."
Starting left guard Aaron Banks took a maintenance day with his knee while Jager Burton sat out with a hamstring issue that forced him out of Wednesday's practice.
3. Extending Isaiah McDuffie was a priority for the Packers.
For all the attention Zaire Franklin and Edgerrin Cooper have received this offseason, Green Bay made another big move at linebacker when it extended Isaiah McDuffie earlier this month.
A sixth-round pick in 2021, McDuffie has recorded 320 tackles with a forced fumble and interception in 80 games with 38 career starts. He was also voted a special teams captain last year.
"McDuffie's a glue guy," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. "He is the epitome of what we want everybody to be in this program, from Day 1. He loves football. He's a great teammate, and I just think it speaks to his character. You just can't have enough guys like that."
McDuffie spent a decent part of his offseason in Green Bay after undergoing core muscle surgery. He was cleared well ahead of training camp and has been a full participant in practice.
After he and his wife welcomed the birth of a daughter this offseason, McDuffie is now the second-longest tenured player on Green Bay's roster behind quarterback Jordan Love.
"It's just crazy how fast – I'm already going into Year 6," McDuffie said. "It's just happening so fast. I'm just trying to take everything in and just live in the moment."
4. Another young defensive back makes a big play.
One day after rookie cornerback Marlon Jones snagged a would-be pick-six in the red zone, Johnathan Baldwin II was the hero of Thursday's reserve-unit work.
Midway through practice, the reserve nickel cornerback slid in front of receiver Isaiah Neyor to intercept Tyrod Taylor on a pass over the middle.
It was a big moment for the 23-year-old defensive back, who spent a majority of last season on Green Bay's practice squad.
"It definitely boosts my confidence, but I got do it again tomorrow, you know what I mean?" Baldwin said. "One play don't define me. So, as long as I'm being consistent and stacking days, that's really all that matters."
5. Sean Rhyan worked on his long-snapping this offseason.
The fifth-year offensive lineman not only finished last season as the Packers' starting center but also the team's backup long snapper.
That cat was let out of the bag this week when Matt Orzech wound up on the physically unable to perform list with a calf injury, requiring Rhyan to jump into the long-snapping fray.
Rhyan has fared quite well given the circumstances. He bounced one to holder Daniel Whelan in Wednesday's practice but otherwise has done an amicable job of delivering the ball.
It was something Rhyan worked on during his offseason training after the team informed him last year that he was the backup.
"I was told I was the backup, so I might as well be able to do it," Rhyan said. "I was trying to not be bad. But the No. 1 rule is just get it back there."
LaFleur said the team has worked out some long snappers but has yet to sign one since Orzech's injury is not expected to be long term.
