Green Bay Packers training camp is finally here. Practices have started and the pads are on. Coming up, the Packers will have joint practices against the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots ahead of their preseason matchups. Let’s take a look at the value of these joint practices and potential matchups to look forward to against the Bengals.
One of the biggest benefits of joint practices is that they provide a unique opportunity for teams to get competitive reps in a controlled environment. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst shared some insight:
[Joint practices] both have their positives and negatives, but you’re able to get a live look and protect your quarterbacks a little bit more and you’re setting things up to want you want to see. But, at the same time, the games are not played that way. The games are played where it’s chaotic and things happen where you can’t expect it, and that’s where players learn the most. But it’s the next best thing.
For the Packers, these practices will be pivotal in navigating a number of position battles and getting Jordan Love acclimated as the starter. Matt LaFleur expressed the value of joint practices for especially young players, “It provides them with more game-like experiences than most practices.”
For Week 1 of the preseason, the Packers hit the road to face the Bengals on August 11. Ahead of the matchup, Cincinnati will host the Packers for a joint practice session on August 9. It’s a matchup that’ll be worth watching, but it will be hampered a bit by Joe Burrow’s calf injury. LaFleur noted he was looking forward to Green Bay’s defense facing Burrow in practice.
While Burrow will likely be sidelined, the Bengals should provide the Packers with a few matchups to follow.
On defense, first-round pick Lukas Van Ness will have his inaugural opportunity to step into the limelight. Since pads have gone on at Packers training camp, Van Ness’ power has been noticeable, and he’s had a number of reps pushing back opposing players.
Keep and eye out to see if Van Ness gets opportunities to line up against Orlando Brown Jr., Cincinnati’s new starting left tackle. Brown measures in at 6’8”, 345 lbs. He’s a power-focused player, and has defended and pushed back some of the best pass rushers in the league like Myles Garrett. It’ll provide a good test for Van Ness to see if he can win with finesse and speed against a top tackle in the league.
Elsewhere on defense, look out for how Green Bay’s defensive backs hold up against Cincinnati’s wide receiving corps of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. Packers corner Jaire Alexander expressed confidence in the group this offseason. Are the Bengals’ top wide receivers consistently creating space? Or are Green Bay’s defensive backs strapping them down consistently?
On offense, all eyes will likely be on Jordan Love as he begins his first year as a starting quarterback. However, Green Bay’s young offensive corps of pass-catchers will be a more interesting matchup against Cincinnati’s defensive backs. The Bengals are undergoing a youth movement on defense after losing Vonn Bell, Jessie Bates, Tre Flowers, and Eli Apple in free agency. Cam Taylor-Britt is the only likely locked-in starter. So far in Bengals camp, second-rounder DJ Turner has been a walking highlight reel and will look to continue his hot streak against the Packers.
For Green Bay, can their second-year players like Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs show out against the seemingly weaker competition? Can rookies Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave flash the explosiveness they’ve displayed in training camp? Overall, the Bengals will be a good level of competition for these young Packers on offense. Also, importantly, these two position groups are both young and should be expected to have plenty of competition with each other, both in the joint practice and the preseason game.
Be on the lookout for updates from beat reporters throughout the week and be sure to catch the Packers-Bengals preseason opener on NFL Network on Friday, August 11 at 6 p.m. CT.
