GREEN BAY – Most of the time, Javon Hargrave enjoys playing the "Unc" role in the Packers' exceedingly young defensive line room.
Not one to take himself too seriously, the two-time Pro Bowler laughs off the playful jabs and nicknames that accompany playing nearly 160 career NFL games.
On the field, however, Hargrave remains all business in Year 11.
The second-oldest player on Green Bay's roster at 33 years old, Hargrave still possesses plenty of pop beneath his shoulder pads and is not afraid to show it.
He made that clear enough during his first full practice of training camp on Tuesday. Participating in 1-on-1s for the first time this summer, Hargrave was matched with promising rookie Jager Burton and quickly made his presence felt on back-to-back rushes, first winning with power and then with speed.
While Burton was technically the adversary in the drill, Hargrave might as well have been staring at a mirror.
"I just wanted to go out there and show myself I still have it a little bit," said Hargrave, humbly, after practice.
It's all in play for the 6-foot-2, 307-pound defensive tackle this season, his first in Green Bay following his release from Minnesota in March. That move across the NFC North has brought with it a feeling of rejuvenation for Hargrave, who has reunited with former Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
Two of Hargrave's best seasons came with Gannon at the defensive controls in 2021-22. While the scheme has evolved in the four years since they've last played together, Hargrave's across-the-line versatility and leadership remain his calling cards.
After shaking off a knee injury that caused him to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, Hargrave looked very much like his old disruptive self at practice on Tuesday.
In addition to his 1-on-1 reps, Hargrave took team 11-on-11 reps for the first time since returning to practice on Aug. 9.
"It felt good just being out there with the guys," Hargrave said. "Just happy to be able to move around and play some football today.
"I'm just trying not to rush the process. They set out a plan for me at the beginning of camp, and I was just being patient."
The Packers have high hopes for what Hargrave could bring to a defensive line that looks vastly different than it did a year ago at this time.
Along with a move back to a 3-4 base front under Gannon, Green Bay has peppered its D-line room with an assortment of different body types and play styles.
The Packers boast two homegrown veterans in Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks, who'll likely start alongside Hargrave this year. Two recent draft choices, Chris McClellan and Warren Brinson, can play all three downs while Jonathan Ford and Nazir Stackhouse are battling for early-down snaps at nose tackle.
That's not to mention first-year defensive tackle Anthony Campbell, who's been a Cinderella story in camp after signing to Green Bay's practice squad during the final week of last season.
"It's very talented. Everybody can play ball here," Hargrave said of the group. "I feel like some places you could tell certain people don't belong but here I honestly don't know who – we're pretty deep at this position."
The Packers have been working a slew of different rotations throughout camp, which allows linemen to not only gain familiarity with each other but also determine the best possible combinations once the regular season hits.
Hargrave is excited to be part of it and has been quick to take the rookie McClellan under his wing and impart advice to any young linemen who wants to hear his perspective on Gannon's defense and the NFL in general.
"I think he's got a lot of ball left ahead of him," defensive line coach Vince Oghobaase said. "He's always got a smile on his face. He's opening up more and more to the room. I think that's how he does it. You gotta have a certain love for the game, and gotta take care of your body, take care of your mind, and be a leader to the ones who look up to him."
That impact isn't limited to the defensive line, either. Hargrave isn't the most boisterous member of the locker room, but his words and actions carry weight.
It's one of the things that drew Green Bay to Hargrave after fielding the NFL's youngest team over the past three years.
"He has that mature mindset that we need as a team," safety Xavier McKinney said. "He brings in that vet mentality, and he's a guy that still can be productive out there on the field. So, we get the best of both worlds. I think it's good for not only the D-lineman group, but our defense and the team."
While aiming to mount another championship run, Hargrave has plenty to play for on an individual level this season. There is a chip on his shoulder to show the NFL he's still the same knifing defensive tackle who's racked up 49 sacks over the past decade.
"I feel like in the NFL, you gotta prove yourself every day, every week, every year," Hargrave said. "I was just excited to get out there and show everybody what I still got and what I still can do."
