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Green Bay Packers’ tight end Tucker Kraft is off to a terrific start in training camp.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n
The Green Bay Packers held their fourth training camp practice on Sunday, another non-padded workout that lasted 1 hour, 50 minutes in 90-degree weather with a heat index pushing triple digits.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the good, bad and ugly from practice No. 4.<\/p>\n
THE GOOD<\/p>\n
IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION?: Yes, it\u2019s just Day 4 of training camp. And the pads haven’t even gone on.<\/p>\n
But first round rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden might just be the piece that takes the Packers\u2019 offense from good to great.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Golden beat cornerback Gregory Junior on a slant route and caught a touchdown from Malik Willis. Moments later, Golden beat Carrington Valentine on a crossing route and hauled in a TD from Jordan Love.<\/p>\n
Through four practices, Golden has displayed tremendous speed, terrific hands and the ability to make people miss in open space.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always had the vision that whenever my opportunity came I was going to take the most of it,\u201d Golden said. \u201cMan, it\u2019s been my dream to go first round since I was 6. That\u2019s something that was always in me, always instilled in me, and I just kept that mindset. So whenever the biggest spotlight was there, I performed and did what I was supposed to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
TOUGH TO STOP: Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is an emerging star and showed off one skill from his impressive tool kit.<\/p>\n
With quarterback Jordan Love under pressure, he threw a 50-50 ball for Kraft. The Packers\u2019 6-foot-5, 259-pound tight end boxed out 5-foot-11, 200-pound safety Evan Williams and hauled in the pass for a 12-yard touchdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can go up and get the ball,\u201d Kraft said. \u201cI\u2019ve shown that time and time again. It\u2019s just getting the opportunity to showcase that.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to being a football star at tiny Timber Lake High School in South Dakota, Kraft was also a basketball standout. As a senior, Kraft earned second-team all-state honors after averaging 14.2 points and 8.0 rebounds.<\/p>\n
His ability to box out an opponent for a rebound is something he\u2019s carried to the football field with jump balls.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to play basketball more than football when I was growing up,\u201d Kraft said. \u201cHooping was my first true love. But it was after my junior season I realized that football was going to be my thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI realized I didn\u2019t have the ball handling ability that a lot of guys playing at my size had. I wasn\u2019t doing nearly as much with skills training as I should have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Things have worked out just fine for Kraft \u2014 and the Packers.<\/p>\n
MERRY CHRISTMAS: Linebacker Tyron Hopper played just 18 snaps as a rookie last season. Perhaps he\u2019s ready for more this year.<\/p>\n
Early in practice, Hopper intercepted Love after Green Bay\u2019s quarterback was heavily pressured. Love wanted tight end Luke Musgrave on a crossing route, but threw a pass right to Hopper.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I got a guy that’s going to come down hill and hit you,\u201d Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan said of Hopper. \u201cHe’s a big, physical guy. He embraces contact, he enjoys the physical aspect of the game. You know, I think he’s learning too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he’s more comfortable now in year two, you know, just like all the rookies are. It’s the second time they’ve gone through an off season. So they’re kind of, they know (what) to expect. So he’s, you know, he’s come back. He’s in great shape. He’s moving around. He knows what he’s doing now. So he looks good.\u201d
GUESS WHO\u2019S BACK, BACK AGAIN?: Guard Aaron Banks (back), wide receiver Savion Williams (concussion) and running back Amar Johnson all returned to practice. Banks and Williams did only individual work, though.<\/p>\n
THIS AND THAT: With Banks sitting out team and Elgton Jenkins sidelined with a back injury, the No. 1 offensive line (from left) was Rasheed Walker, Jordan Morgan, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk and Zach Tom. \u2026 Typically, whichever side of the ball has a better practice doesn\u2019t have to do pushups afterwards. On Sunday, it was declared a tie and both sides did post-practice pushups in the sweltering heat.<\/p>\n
THE BAD<\/p>\n
DIALING IT DOWN: Packers free agent cornerback Nate Hobbs has been one of the early standouts in camp. He\u2019s also been one of the more aggressive players, taking wideout Dontayvion Wicks to the ground during a practice on Friday.<\/p>\n
Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur was asked if he needed to reign Hobbs in a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe answer is yes,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cThis is what I told him. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s malicious. I think it\u2019s one of the things and one of the qualities that we really admired about him, is how he competes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just, we talk about competing for the football. We just don\u2019t want to go through a person \u2013 whoever that person is \u2013 to make a play on the ball. I don\u2019t mind him going through the hands. We just don\u2019t want him going through the body, because that\u2019s how you end up with people on the ground. We\u2019d all be sick to our stomach if somebody got hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
FROM THE INFIRMARY: The following Packers did not practice due to injury: Offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins (back), linebacker Quay Walker (ankle), wideout Christian Watson (knee), defensive end Collin Oliver (hamstring) and offensive lineman John Williams (back)<\/p>\n
THE UGLY<\/p>\n
SNAP TO IT: Center Trey Hill has struggled snapping the ball during the start of camp. On Sunday, Hill sent a shotgun snap over Malik Willis\u2019 head.<\/p>\n
FROM THE ARCHIVES<\/p>\n
\u2022 Training camp: Day 3<\/a><\/p>\n