We’re just over a week into training camp and just over a month away from Week 1. However, this weekend will be the first time since January that you can watch the Green Bay Packers on an NFL field. It’s Family Night in Green Bay, so let’s go through everything you need to know before the first real event on the Packers’ 2025 schedule.
When is it?
Family Night is Saturday, August 2.
If you are attending, gates open at 5:30 p.m. If you are watching from home, the team will take the field for warmups at 7 p.m, and practice will start at 7:30 p.m.
Where to watch
The Packers will broadcast Family Night on Local and Packers TV Network Stations. Those include WGBA-TV in Green Bay and WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee, as well as WAOW-TV in Wausau, WKOW-TV in Madison, WXOW-TV in La Crosse, WQOW-TV in Eau Claire, KQDS-TV in Duluth-Superior, and WLUC-TV in Escanaba-Marquette.
The event will also be televised on KWWL-TV and WHBF-TV in Iowa; KATN-TV, KYUR-TV, and KJUD-TV in Alaska; and KDLT in Sioux Falls, SD.
It will also be streamed on Packers.com.
If you’d like to attend the game, you can get tickets at Ticketmaster for just $12.30. If you attend, you will also be treated to a fireworks show after practice.
Why to watch Family Night
You may be thinking Why should I watch Family Night? It’s just a practice that’s in Lambeau Field.
Well, there are multiple reasons. The main reason is the same as why 65,000 people attend Family Night every year, and the same reason I was on the couch with a cold beer on Thursday night, watching two teams play their second- and third-stringers in the Hall of Fame game.
The vibes.
Few things beat NFL football on the TV, and nothing beats watching the Green and Gold under the lights at Lambeau Field. Whether it’s a practice or a game, the vibes are elite.
It’s also the first time you get to see the team live in action in seven months. And it’s our first introduction to all of the new players, including high-priced free agents in Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs, exciting rookies like Matthew Golden, and fun flier free-agent additions like Isaiah Simmons.
What to watch for
Lukas Van Ness’ continued evolution
It’s been just a week and a half, but one of the biggest stories of Packers training camps so far has been Lukas Van Ness consistently wreaking havoc on defense. A leap from Van Ness would be the single most impactful development from a player on the defense.
Green Bay’s edge room lacks juice behind Rashan Gary, and Gary hasn’t shown the ability to carry an edge room by himself. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, a lack of pass rush would be a huge problem, one that could be easily fixed by Hercules living up to its nickname and draft capital.
The Love-to-Golden connection
Golden hasn’t been perfect; he’s had his rookie moments. But it hasn’t taken long for him to catch on and look every bit of a first-round pick. Tuesday’s practice was his true breakout. He made several huge plays throughout practice, then capped it off with a bomb TD.
Watching Golden in a green-and-gold uniform for the first time is the thing I’m most excited about Saturday night.
Don’t get Ty’ron Hopper and Isaiah Simmons confused with Edgerrin Cooper
Hopper and Simmons have been two of the more fun players to track throughout the first week and a half of camp. Both have stepped right into the linebacker rotation and shown off their speed, making impact plays eerily similar to Edgerrin Cooper.
Don’t expect either to be Cooper. Both will likely be primary special teams players, but it’ll be fun to track each’s involvement in the defense.
The Georgia nose tackles
The battle between former teammates Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson for the likely final defensive tackle spot is shaping up to be the most heated on the team. Stackhouse and Brinson provide Green Bay’s defense with a body type and play style as a run defender that it lacks after the departure of T.J. Slaton, and both have flashed their potential in camp.
Despite Brinson being a sixth-round pick and Stackhouse being a UDFA, whoever wins the spot could have a role right away with the defense.
The ball-hawk DBs
Xavier McKinney is an absolute star. Last year’s first-team All-Pro safety has come into camp and made play after play. It’s nearly impossible to throw in his vicinity. The same is becoming true with Carrington Valentine.
Valentine’s ball skills have always been good, but it looks like he’s taken a leap in that area. There are still areas he needs to improve, such as his run defense. However, as a coverage player, he looks ready to jump into a larger role.
Things you don’t need to watch
The kicking!
Brandon McManus has been nails all camp, making 25-straight field goals to start. He just missed his first one on Thursday. For the first time in two seasons, it finally feels like Packers fans will be able to take bathroom breaks during extra points again.
It’s been a long offseason, but we’re finally here. Football will be on our TVs regularly for the next six-plus months. There’s nothing better than this time of year.
