Packers: Jclombardi’s News Links

Jclombardi reviews Packers headlines & training camp reports.

Training camp reports: Morning roundup: Veterans get to skip practice.  Thursday training camp report.  Photos: Thursday morning training camp practice.  Insider: Chillar looks good, but punters don’t.  Notebook: LBs keep moving, even with Jones back.  Notebook: LBs keep moving, even with Jones back.  Evening notes: Blackmon departs early.  Photos: Thursday evening training camp practice.  Thursday’s Packers training camp report. 

Training camp notes: Underwood and Lee are waging a spirited battle for the nickel job.  Matthews hasn’t been close to a dominant performer.  Jones was back practicing but with the No. 2s as Chillar worked exclusively with the starters at ROLB.  Rookie safety Burnett showed great coverage skills, almost had one INT, & reeled in a pass that deflected off Driver.  This guy is a stud.  Quarless’ gain may be Lee’s loss–TE Quarless could be the next Finley. He’s an athletic tight end with above average receiving skills and blocking ability. 

Focus on players: Bishop still mulling extension.  Safety Battle Over Before It Starts.  Packers S Bigby to have ankle surgery.  Packers’ secondary takes hit as Bigby will have ankle surgery. Tauscher, Clifton show they still can play.  Bigbys offseason further unravels with ankle surgery.   Finley wants to catch more; coaches want TE to keep blocking.  Colledge in fine position.  Packers shuffle LBs as Jones return to practice.

Injury report: Players on one-a-day schedules who weren’t part of the veteran morning-off crew who were held out were WR Swain, S Blackmon, S Martin and DE Talley. LG Colledge (elbow) returned to practice. LB Jones (back), OL Newhouse (concussion), DE Harrell (heat) and WR Jennings (funeral) were back for both practices as well.  At night, everyone who sat out in the morning returned at night except for Martin.  LB Zombo sat out the nighttime workout after suffering an ankle injury during the morning practice.  Blackmon suited up for practice at night and caught punts before dropping out.  The three players on the physically unable to perform list–CB Harris (knee), S Bigby (ankle) and RB Starks (hamstring)–remained sidelined with Bigby set to undergo ankle surgery.

Practice schedule: Today, Packers practice in pads at 2 p.m.  Saturday night at 6:30 p.m., the Packers conduct their family night intra-squad scrimmage. Sunday, the Packers have the day off.  Monday, the Packers  return to practice in pads at 2 p.m.