As 32 NFL teams head for training camp, where 53-man rosters and starting lineups will be decided, NFL Analysis is taking an in-depth look at each team before the fun begins. In this article, it’s the turn of the Green Bay Packers, led by quarterback Jordan Love in what will be a crucial third season as the team’s starter.
Green Bay Packers’ training camp and preseason dates
Training camp opens on July 23rd, closing on August 23rd following the team’s final preseason game.
Their preseason schedule is as follows:
vs New York Jets, August 9th, 7pm CT
@ Indianapolis Colts, August 16th, Noon CT
vs Seattle Seahawks, August 23rd, 3pm CT
Green Bay Packers’ main camp storylines
There’s a lot surrounding the Packers this offseason, and each storyline holds some intrigue. First and foremost, though, the fanbase’s concerns will largely be around defensive back. Following the decision to part ways with Jaire Alexander, the team is noticeably lacking for experience at the position outside of the free-agency signee Nate Hobbs.
Mark Murphy has talked up All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon as a potential solution, and he’ll likely get the first crack at replacing Alexander. If he isn’t up to it, Carrington Valentine may see more snaps. The team, however, would probably like both Nixon and Valentine to develop, which would potentially free them up to start Hobbs in the nickel corner spot, which might actually be a better position for the former Las Vegas Raider.
Facing those defensive backs in camp will be a young crop of receivers who are also generating excitement. While Christian Watson continues to rehabilitate an injury, rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams will compete for roles in Matt LaFleur’s offense, with both expected to contribute early. Williams has already been described as a ‘stud’ by one prominent draft analyst, and will surely excite fans if he delivers on his potential.
Elsewhere, the team has an ongoing contract dispute with starting center Elgton Jenkins, and also needs to solve issues relating to the composition of the offensive line, where Jordan Morgan is set to compete across multiple potential starting slots. There’s also an issue at safety, where the team needs to find a solid starter to place next to last year’s star, Xavier McKinney.
However, the storyline that forever looms large in Green Bay is the same as always — the man throwing the ball. After an impressive first starting season and an up-and-down second, all eyes are on Jordan Love as he seeks to prove just what level of quarterback he actually is. With a revenge matchup against the Steelers on the slate for 2025, we’ll find out pretty quickly. Love doesn’t lack confidence, however, and recently refuted that the team had had a down year at all.
Green Bay Packers’ training camp player to watch – CB Keisean Nixon
If you read this Keisean, don’t blame us, blame your president.
Mark Murphy, the Packers’ outgoing president, fired the starting gun on the hype train for Nixon with his recent comments about the seventh-year defensive back, but it’s a hell of a lot to put on him.
While he’s shown potential as a corner, particularly last season, he’s made his NFL name through his kick returning, something that’s put him into the All-Pro reckoning twice in his career. The former Arizona Western and South Carolina prospect is clearly an extremely good athlete, but asking him to jump up to starter level in a division containing multiple high-powered offenses might be a step too far.
That said, Nixon doesn’t lack for confidence, and the Packers often turn skeptical evaluations on players in their building into things that later provide huge credit to the organization, with their two most high profile moves of the last two decades, aka swapping Brett Favre for Aaron Rodgers and then trading in Rodgers for Jordan Love, paying off with fairly handsome dividends.
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Green Bay’s 2025 success on defense likely hinges on Nixon’s success as a cornerback — with no experienced backups to speak of at the time of writing, it really is an all-or-nothing shot being taken by Green Bay. Coming at a time when rumors surround both their head coach and GMs’ futures under new team president Ed Policy, is it one risk too far?
