Two weeks down. Up next, the preseason. Green Bay Packers training camp is moving at pace, and we continue to learn a lot about this team.
The Packers are coming off their most eventful practice of the summer, one that came with returning players, new injuries, and potential benchings. A lot happened.
And it capped off a noteworthy second week of training camp. Even recent 53-man roster predictions now look outdated, as things are moving and changing fast at Ray Nitschke Field. Ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, here's a look at the biggest winners and losers from the second week of camp.
Biggest winners and losers from Week 2 of Packers training camp
Winner: Brandon Cisse
Brandon Cisse was one of our Week 1 winners, and if anything, he's an even bigger winner this time. It feels inevitable that Cisse will be in the Packers' starting lineup at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 13.
Carrington Valentine's injury opened the door for Cisse to make the job his, and the rookie has exceeded even the most optimistic fan's expectations. After dominating a one-on-one matchup with Savion Williams, Cisse has seen a lot of Christian Watson at recent practices, and it's been a heavyweight battle.
Watson has had his moments, of course. He does that to everybody. But the exciting part is that Cisse has held his own and made it competitive. Green Bay's second-round pick is poised to have a huge impact this season.
Winner: Matthew Golden
Matthew Golden is another returning winner from last week. He might be the Packers' star of training camp.
Golden has missed the past two practices due to a toe injury, although it doesn't sound like he'll miss much time. His work before that ensures he still makes the list as a winner.
The 2025 first-round pick was one of the standouts at Family Night, first by beating Keisean Nixon in one-on-ones and then by hauling in a 50-yard touchdown from Jordan Love. Golden is making big plays at practice every day. The breakout season is coming.
Winner: Jacob Monk
Credit to Jacob Monk. He's had to battle for every opportunity since the Packers selected him in the fifth round two years ago.
It looked like Monk might've been on the way out ahead of roster cutdowns a year ago after struggling in the preseason, but he never gave up. The Packers clearly believe in him, and he's repaying their faith this summer.
Monk had been getting first-team reps while Zach Bako-Bewele and Aaron Banks sat out of team drills. Bako-Bewele returned to his right tackle spot on Sunday, which most assumed would mean Anthony Belton slides back to right guard.
But that's not what happened. It was Monk, and not 2025 second-round pick Belton, who got the first-team reps at right guard. Only time will tell whether Monk can win the job, but he's turned it into a real competition.
Winner: Jordan Morgan
There's no competition at left tackle, though. No news is very much good news here. You don't want to hear a lot about your offensive linemen, as it means they are probably doing their job.
That's Jordan Morgan, who is answering every single question about whether he's capable of holding up as Rasheed Walker's replacement. Morgan is most comfortable at left tackle, his college position, and it shows. The days of plugging him in wherever needed are over.
Morgan is the Packers' starting left tackle, and he looks up to the challenge.
Winner: Savion Williams
Injuries are never a good thing, but the absence of Golden and Jayden Reed has had one positive: increased snaps for Savion Williams.
Williams made a quiet start to training camp and had seemingly fallen out of favor in the rotation, but he stacked success this week. The second-year receiver made one of the plays of Family Night with a leaping touchdown catch, and he followed it with an outstanding practice on Sunday. According to Bill Huber of Packers On SI, Williams "dominated."
The Packers will need him this season as their new WR4, and Williams looks ready.
Loser: Keisean Nixon
Keisean Nixon seemed locked into the Packers' starting lineup a week ago. He's still a clear favorite to remain the CB1, but suddenly there's some jeopardy.
Nixon's endured some tough moments this week. Golden got the better of him in one-on-ones, and it appears that Cisse and Benjamin St-Juste have closed the gap.
The veteran spent some time with the backup defense during Sunday's practice. While the Packers do like to rotate, that's not something we'd seen earlier in camp with Nixon. The battle was always about who would start alongside Nixon, not in his place.
It's still his job to lose, but the Packers have at least taken a look at a starting combination of Cisse and St-Juste. Nixon needs to bounce back.
Loser: Anthony Belton
Second-year Anthony Belton is also at risk of losing his starting job. The problem is trying to find his best position. Belton was a college tackle, but the Packers have mostly played him at guard. That's where he'll need to play this season if he wants to start regularly.
It's probably not a great sign, then, that LaFleur said tackle "comes a little more natural" for Belton. Especially considering Belton hasn't looked particularly comfortable there. He struggled at Family Night, giving away multiple penalties, and has since lost first-team reps to Jacob Monk.
Monk is in the mix, as is rookie Jager Burton. Belton desperately needs to turn things around, or he'll likely begin Week 1 as a backup.
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