{"id":908771,"date":"2026-06-03T10:12:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T10:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/908771\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T10:12:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T10:12:18","slug":"5-things-learned-at-packers-otas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/908771\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things learned at Packers OTAs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>GREEN BAY \u2013 The Packers were back out on the Ray Nitschke practice field as organized team activities rolled along on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Here are five things learned from the workout:<\/p>\n<p>It feels a little weird for <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/zaire-franklin\/\" title=\"Zaire Franklin\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zaire Franklin<\/a> being the new guy.<\/p>\n<p>The former All-Pro linebacker spent his first eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts before he was traded to Green Bay in March in exchange for defensive lineman Colby Wooden.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Little intimidating to be honest with you,&#8221; said Franklin with a smile after practice. &#8220;When I was in Indy, I was there so long. I was always the guy to kind of try to help the new guys come in and figure everything out. Now, I&#8217;m the guy that&#8217;s looking for the help.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Franklin credited quarterback <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/jordan-love\/\" title=\"Jordan Love\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jordan Love<\/a>, safety <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/xavier-mckinney\/\" title=\"Xavier McKinney\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Xavier McKinney<\/a>, tight end <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/tucker-kraft\/\" title=\"Tucker Kraft\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tucker Kraft<\/a> and fellow linebacker <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/edgerrin-cooper\/\" title=\"Edgerrin Cooper\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Edgerrin Cooper<\/a> for helping him get up to speed so quickly.<\/p>\n<p>On the field, the 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker already feels at home. Franklin has schematic familiarity after working with Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon during his first two seasons in Indianapolis, where Gannon coached the Colts&#8217; defensive backs.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s also no stranger to wearing the communication headset and serving as the quarterback of the defense after playing that role the past four seasons with the Colts.<\/p>\n<p>A former seventh-round pick who became one of the faces of the franchise for Indianapolis, Franklin enjoyed a career year in 2024 when he recorded a league-high 173 tackles, five forced fumbles, 3\u00bd sacks and two interceptions.<\/p>\n<p>Enjoying his new NFL home, the 29-year-old veteran says he still has plenty &#8220;left in the tank&#8221; and he&#8217;s ready to earn his opportunities every day he walks into Lambeau Field.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I done seen a lot, I done did a lot from a late-round pick to a full-time special teamer to one of the highest paid at my position,&#8221; Franklin said. &#8220;I understand what it means to try and have to make a team and prove yourself in OTAs, and I also understand what it means when a team is looking for you to lead and stand out in front and be an example both in the locker room and in the community.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And then on the field, I&#8217;m just a dog. I ain&#8217;t gonna lie to you. That&#8217;s just how I like to play.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/josh-jacobs\/\" title=\"Josh Jacobs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Josh Jacobs<\/a> was back at practice; <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/micah-parsons\/\" title=\"Micah Parsons\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Micah Parsons<\/a> is back in Green Bay.<\/p>\n<p>The Packers&#8217; running back has rejoined the team following his May 23 arrest for a domestic situation. Jacobs was released from custody last Thursday as county prosecutors further investigate the case and determine whether to file formal charges.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement through his lawyers, Jacobs has denied the allegations.<\/p>\n<p>The 28-year-old running back didn&#8217;t attend the first practice open to reporters last Wednesday but was a full participant on Tuesday. He led the running backs through individual period and took first-team reps in team 11-on-11.<\/p>\n<p>Head Coach Matt LaFleur said the team has discussed the matter internally. When asked if Jacobs&#8217; situation has been a distraction or business as usual, LaFleur quantified it as the latter.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Everyone knows what the situation is there and we&#8217;ve talked,&#8221; said quarterback Jordan Love after practice. &#8220;But obviously the details \u2013 everybody&#8217;s keeping that under wraps right now just out of respect for the situation and obviously all the legal stuff that&#8217;s gonna be playing out.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;But it&#8217;s great to have Josh here with us, being able to work with us and get back to work. But everybody&#8217;s just waiting and letting it play out on its own.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Running back <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/damien-martinez\/\" title=\"Damien Martinez\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Damien Martinez<\/a> also returned to practice on Tuesday while receiver\/returner <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/skyy-moore\/\" title=\"Skyy Moore\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Skyy Moore<\/a> was with the rehab group after practicing in front of the media last week.<\/p>\n<p>The Packers&#8217; other 13 non-participants remained the same: defensive linemen Micah Parsons, <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/devonte-wyatt\/\" title=\"Devonte Wyatt\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Devonte Wyatt<\/a>, <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/jordon-riley\/\" title=\"Jordon Riley\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jordon Riley<\/a> and <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/jonathan-ford\/\" title=\"Jonathan Ford\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Ford<\/a>; offensive linemen <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/zach-tom\/\" title=\"Zach Tom\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zach Tom<\/a>, <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/jacob-monk\/\" title=\"Jacob Monk\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jacob Monk<\/a> and <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/donovan-jennings\/\" title=\"Donovan Jennings\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Donovan Jennings<\/a>; tight ends Tucker Kraft and <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/drake-dabney\/\" title=\"Drake Dabney\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Drake Dabney<\/a>; defensive backs <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/benjamin-st-juste\/\" title=\"Benjamin St-Juste\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Benjamin St-Juste<\/a>, <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/domani-jackson\/\" title=\"Domani Jackson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Domani Jackson<\/a> and <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/kamal-hadden\/\" title=\"Kamal Hadden\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kamal Hadden<\/a>; and linebacker <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/isaiah-mcduffie\/\" title=\"Isaiah McDuffie\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Isaiah McDuffie<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>LaFleur confirmed that Parsons is back in Green Bay as the four-time All-Pro pass rusher continues his rehab from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s in the building, so that was great to see him yesterday, and to see where he&#8217;s at in that process,&#8221; LaFleur said. &#8220;But he&#8217;s been as advertised in terms of the player, and then as a leader on this football team, so I couldn&#8217;t be more excited than to have a guy like that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/marshawn-lloyd\/\" title=\"MarShawn Lloyd\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MarShawn Lloyd<\/a> went to California to get to the bottom of his injury issues.<\/p>\n<p>Having played just one game in two NFL seasons, the Packers running back wanted to get to the root cause of the injury issues that have plagued him.<\/p>\n<p>Lloyd met with Dr. John Meyer of the Meyer Institute of Sport, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and performance facility in El Segundo, Calif.<\/p>\n<p>Their belief is the former third-round pick&#8217;s issues may stem from the torn ACL Lloyd suffered early during his time at the University of South Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Overcompensating, back to all the way from college, my ACL, just things that didn&#8217;t get the strength they needed,&#8221; Lloyd said. &#8220;I had to re-evaluate that, get my quads stronger, get my whole body stronger, honestly. I&#8217;ve been able to go to him, get those things figured out. It&#8217;s been really good.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Green Bay put a plan together for Lloyd this offseason and it&#8217;s been so far, so good. He was back in team 11-on-11 Tuesday after only doing individuals last Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>With Emanuel Wilson&#8217;s departure in free agency, Lloyd wants to prove to the Packers he&#8217;s capable of filling that void in the backfield.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I know what I have to do,&#8221; Lloyd said. &#8220;This is the place that I want to be. This is a great organization, like I said early on. Any other place, it would be different. For them to still believe in me and still trust in everything I can do, it just makes me want to go out there and play hard.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/bo-melton\/\" title=\"Bo Melton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bo Melton<\/a> is a receiver again\u2026and he had himself a day.<\/p>\n<p>The Packers have officially moved the third-year veteran back to his original position after trying Melton at cornerback last year.<\/p>\n<p>The 5-foot-11, 189-pound receiver made two highlight plays, catching a pair of deep balls from Love in 11-on-11. On the second reception, Melton gained 10 yards of separation for what would&#8217;ve been a walk-in touchdown.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It was lit,&#8221; Melton said. &#8220;J-Love, he throws perfect balls. He found me down the field a couple times. Being in the league now five years, my go-to is being a deep ball guy. Him being able to find me today is great.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>By Melton&#8217;s own admission, last year was challenging but he gained the respect of the locker room for his willingness to give defense a shot. After the season, Melton spoke with General Manager Brian Gutekunst and LaFleur and was told the plan would be for him to play receiver in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s anybody in the world that&#8217;s like Bo Melton,&#8221; receiver <a class=\"nfl-o-cta--link nfl-o-cta--underline\" style=\"word-break:break-word\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packers.com\/team\/players-roster\/christian-watson\/\" title=\"Christian Watson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Christian Watson<\/a>said. &#8220;Having him back in the room, I know the wide receiver room is where he wants to be. You get a better side of Bo when he&#8217;s doing what he wants to do. I&#8217;m excited to have him back in the room.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Love is enjoying being a first-time father.<\/p>\n<p>The Packers&#8217; quarterback and his wife Ronika recently welcomed the birth of their daughter, Rayna.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to the efforts of the missus, Love said he&#8217;s slept fairly well during the opening phases of both the Packers&#8217; offseason program and fatherhood.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Dad life has been amazing so far,&#8221; Love sad. &#8220;Ronika is doing a great job, fantastic job, of allowing me to get as much sleep as I can. Some nights, you gotta try to help out as much as I can, but she&#8217;s doing a great job.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GREEN BAY \u2013 The Packers were back out on the Ray Nitschke practice field as organized team activities&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":908772,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[7,34,417,6621,507,6056,6],"class_list":["post-908771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-football","tag-homepage-cp","tag-news-all-news","tag-news-five-things","tag-news-national-feature","tag-news-otas","tag-nfl"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116685644989756402","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/908771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=908771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/908771\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/908772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=908771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=908771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=908771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}