Practice resumes with only injured Bulaga out
GREEN BAY - After a three-day break in which the players found out who was coming and going, the Green Bay Packers returned to practice Monday.
And they appeared to be in pretty good shape where injuries are concerned.
The only previously injured player on the 53man roster who did not take part in the workout was right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who is recovering from a right ankle sprain. The Packers don’t have to release an injury report until Wednesday, but last week coach Mike McCarthy said he did not have a major concern regarding Bulaga’s availability for the season opener.
Five players who sat out the Los Angeles Rams exhibition Thursday because of injury took part in the Packers’ first practice of Week 1.
The most surprising development was the return of rookie defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who had been out since undergoing foot surgery the first week of training camp. Adams took part in all of the individual drills. He said after practice that he did not take part in any team drills and is working to regain the form and confidence he once had in his foot.
After missing all but a day of training camp, it’s going to take several weeks for Adams to be ready to play in a game. But the Packers want to start the process as soon as possible because they think Adams can help their pass rush this season.
“It was all right,’’ Adams said. “I could tell I’m not back to the same person. But it was a good first step. Right now, I just have to make sure I’m healthy. If I’m not healthy it doesn’t matter.
“No player is 100%, but anybody can be mentally 100%, so I’m just trying to make sure I’m there. It was a good day.”
Also returning from injury were linebackers Clay Matthews (groin tightness) and Nick Perry (ankle), guard/center Lucas Patrick (concussion evaluation) and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (knee).
In addition, safety Kentrell Brice, practiced after injuring a shoulder in the Rams game.
The Packers are off Tuesday and then will practice Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday before facing the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Investment plan: McCarthy and his offensive staff invested a lot of time in training quarterback Taysom Hill, who came to the NFL with limited experience in a pro-style offense.
To lose him to the New Orleans Saints on a waiver claim was not easy to stomach.
“Definitely,” McCarthy said. “You don’t ever want to lose a player, especially your quarterback. I take a lot of personal pride in how that room operates and the interaction and coaching that goes on in the quarterback room.”
It’s possible Hill won’t last on the Saints’ 53-man roster and be available to the Packers the same way Joe Callahan was last year after Cleveland released him in midseason. For now, Callahan is the practice-squad quarterback McCarthy will use, someone else the coach invested a lot of time in.
“Joe Callahan obviously has a lot of interest and has value around the National Football League,” McCarthy said. “I think if you look at his preseason last year, that will tell you so.
“He didn’t have the opportunities this preseason that he had last year. Obviously, the focus was on getting Brett Hundley as many snaps as possible, so I thought both the young quarterbacks did a good job with their opportunities. I’m very pleased to have Joe back there.’’
Confidence man: Even though Patrick and Justin McCray haven’t played a down of regularseason football, McCarthy said he felt an investment in both players was worthwhile.
Both former undrafted free agents, the two are working at both guard and center. One of them will be center Corey Linsley’s backup.
“They played very well,” McCarthy said. “I think if you look at the video, you see two young players ascending. Obviously, Lucas Patrick was injured and didn’t get to play after the Denver game, so two young guys that earned those roster spots.
“You take your hat off to them, and I think when training camp started you knew it was going to be a big challenge for those two to make the 53 and they got it done.”