The Good,: Bad And Ugly From The Packers’ Final Training Camp Practice

The Green Bay Packers wrapped up training camp with a joint practice against the Arizona Cardinals, featuring a unique matchup between head coaches and brothers, Matt and Mike LaFleur, whose parents proudly watched. Key players Javon Bullard and Benjamin St-Juste returned from injury, while wide receivers Matthew Golden and Bo Melton delivered impressive performances, with Melton also excelling on special teams.

The defense demonstrated promise, tallying four interceptions. However, the team is preparing for a potential Josh Jacobs suspension, which could impact roster cuts. Rookie kicker Trey Smack struggled, making only two of five field goals.

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Core Findings and Detailed Timeline

Furthermore, the Packers' "finishing woes" continued, as both the offense and defense faltered in crucial two-minute drills, a concern acknowledged The team now looks to an exhibition game before final roster decisions. The Green Bay Packers held their 16 th — and final — training camp practice Wednesday.

The joint practice with Arizona lasted 2 hours, 14 minutes on a picture perfect, 76-degree day in Green Bay.

The practice was memorable as the LaFleur brothers — Green Bay coach Matt La Fleur and Arizona coach Mike LaFleur — squared off. “I’m as close to him as anybody,” Matt LaFleur said of Mike. “I love him, and I don’t want to say like, because this isn’t a slight, but I am proud of him.

I think he’s done a great job. He’s true to who he is.

He’s a great human being, a great father, I think he’s got an exceptional football mind, and I think he does things the right way.” Added Mike: "It’s hard to explain because in your head you’re just thinking about this practice and what needs to get done and what we’re trying to accomplish.

Broader Implications and Future Outlook

Obviously a big storyline in terms of a joint practice in general. We want to make sure that we’re here to get our work in and not have any shenanigans or anything like that.

On the flip side, yeah, it’s cool.” The Packers and Cardinals now square off in an exhibition game Friday, then rosters must be trimmed to 53 m.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly from the Packers’ final practice of the summer. DENNY AND KRISTI LAFLEUR: There’s nothing better for a parent than to see their children succeed.

So it was a remarkably special day for Denny and Kristi LaFleur, who watched their sons — Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and Arizona’s Mike LaFleur — face off in this joint practice.

“It’s surreal, but I feel this way: They’ve earned it,” Denny LaFleur said before the joint practice. “They worked their butts off.” Denny was a linebacker at Central Michigan, who then served as a defensive coach for the Chippewas from 1976-1997.

After his tenure at CMU, Denny worked as an assistant coach for 13 seasons and a head coach for four seasons at Mount Pleasant (Mich.) High School.

Matt is entering his eighth season as Green Bay’s head coach, and Mike is in Year 1 with Arizona. “People always say, you must be proud of your kids,” Denny said. “I say, do you have kids?

If you do, you’re proud of your own kids, you’re proud of what they do. Ours just happen to be in sports, and it’s entertainment. Our kids, we’re able to experience all the things that they do, plus more, and it’s been a blessing.” WELCOME BACK: Green Bay nickel Javon Bullard and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste both returned to practice.

Bullard has been out since Aug. 10 with a foot injury that was in a boot for a stretch. “I’ll be back in no time,” Bullard said after sustaining the injury.

“If we had a game tomorrow I’d play. It’s nothing crazy. We’re just trying to proceed with caution right now instead of letting it linger and be dealing with it later on.” St-Juste missed Monday’s practice with a hamstring injury.

He’s been battling Keisean Nixon for the starting cornerback job opposite rookie Brandon Cisse. St-Juste shared after practice his day off Monday was strictly “precautionary.” Edge rusher Aaron Mos GOLDEN CHILD: Second-year wideout Matthew Golden continued his magnificent summer with a 45-yard touchdown reception between two Arizona defenders on a beautifully thrown ball from Jordan Love.

“I think he’s much more confident in the scheme and what they’re asking him to do and the nuances, certainly I think the opportunities with Jordan,” Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Golden. “Again, he did have a good camp last year as well but I think the opportunities with Jordan are more and I think that confidence between the two are growing.” BO KNOWS: While much was made of the LaFleur Bowl this week, but the undercard featured Green Bay wide receiver Bo Melton and his brother, Cardinals cornerback Max Melton.

Early in practice, Bo beat Max on a slant and Packers’ wide receiver group went wild. “Oh man, as the big brother, I couldn't let him win,” said Bo Melton, who’s three years older than Max.

“You’ve got to whoop your brother, know what I’m saying.” Melton later had a 15-yard reception and a 12-yard catch on a leaping sideline grab.

Melton also received work as the No. 1 kick returner and was a gunner on the Packers’ top punt coverage team. Melton’s ability to wear multiple hats should have solidified his spot on the roster for another season.

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“I feel like this was my best summer yet,” Melton said. “It’s the fastest I’ve been. I’m doing special teams.

I’ve been making play after play, so I’m excited.” INTERCEPTIONS GALORE: Green Bay had just seven interceptions last season, the fewest in franchise history. On Wednesday, the Packers had four. Rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse had an early pick of Jaco Safety Kitan Oladapo picked off Gardner Minshew when another Arizona receiver slipped and fell.

Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper had an interception after Trey Dean tipped a Minshew pass. And Green Bay safety Murvin Kenion had an INT after Oladapo hit Arizona wide receiver Jalen Brooks and jarred the ball loose. “It was good,” Oladapo shared.

“I think it was good to see different schemes, different personnel and just hit a different color, honestly, but I think it was good day of work.” THIS AND THAT: Green Bay’s No. 1 gunners in punt coverage were Bo Melton and Kitan Oladapo. … The Packers’ No.

1 offensive line was (from left) Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk and Zach Bako-Bewele. The No. 2 unit was John Williams, Donovan Jennings, Jager Burton, Travis Glover and Anthony Belton.

… Green Bay long snapper Matt Orzech (calf) stated he’s on track to play in Week 1 against Minnesota. “They just want to be sure that when I do come back I’m at 100% and not nursing it or fighting a regression all season,” Orzech said.

… Green Bay edge rusher Colin Oliver also stated he should be ready for the Packers’ season opener.

“100%,” Oliver said. “I’m confident in where I’m at right now.” PREPARING FOR THE WORST: Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said the Packers are preparing for a scenario where running back Josh Jacobs could be suspended.

Jacobs was arrested on May 26, 2026, in connection to a domestic dispute that took place days earlier, leading to bookings for preliminary charges that included domestic abuse battery, disorderly conduct, and felony strangulation/suffocation.

The Brown County District Attorney's office released him the following day, though, stating they were not yet prepared to file charges and needed to request additional inquiry. To date, no formal charges have been released. “We’ll deal with that when that comes,” Gutekunst said.

“But we’ve obviously prepared for that in case that happens.” Gutekunst said that could mean Green Bay goes heavy at running back on cutdown day and keeps four backs. “I think again we’ll deal with that if that transpires, but we could” Gutekunst said.

“You’re always usually going to keep three or four running backs, and I think we have enough to do that.

But again it comes down to choices and trying to figure that out.” FROM THE INFIRMARY: Here’s how the Packers’ injury list looked Wednesday. Not practicing: Warren Brinson (calf), edge rusher Collin Oliver (calf), wide receiver Savion Williams (ankle), and tight end Thomas Yassmin (knee).

Reserve lists: edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee), tight end Luke Musgrave (neck), long snapper Matt Orzech (calf) and defensive tackle Jordon Reilly (Achilles).

THIS AND THAT: Marvin Harrison Jr. whipped Keisean Nixon for a touchdown in the back right corner of the endzone during red zone drills. … Tyrod Taylor fumbled a snap from Jager Burton.

NOT HIS DAY: Green Bay rookie kicker Trey Smack had rebounded from a rough start to camp, highlighted Smack struggled on Wednesday, though, going just 2-for-5 overall. Smack was wide left from 33 yards, wide right from 45 and short and right from 58. He also made kicks from 38 and 53 yards.

“I would say, like, each guy is different,” Green Bay special teams coordinator Cam Achord said. “Some guys are great on gameday, some guys are great in practice. And it may not translate.

I think it’s just being the same person every day, whether that’s a kicker or a core player or whatever it may be.” FINISHING WOES CONTINUE: Green Bay’s inability to finish games was the story of its 2026 season. The Packers blew double digit, fourth quarter leads to Chicago on two occasions and also to Cleveland.

The Packers’ odds of going 0-3 in those games was 1-in-250,000, yet they somehow did it. The Packers also lost a nine-point, third quarter lead to Denver and eventually fell, 34-26, to the Broncos. Things didn't go much better in this practice, as Green Bay’s starters both lost in the 2-minute drill to finish practice.

Matthew Golden dropped a touchdown pass for the Packers’ offense, while Arizona’s offense marched right down the field against Green Bay’s No. 1 defense. “I think we started off the day really hot and we were making a lot of plays,” Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love said.

“And I think towards the end, we didn’t finish as well. And I think that’s obviously something we’ve harped on throughout the offseason, throughout training camp. So, I think that was the kind of lowest point of the day was just (the) finish.

And I think in training camp, the joint practices, I think it gets a little chippy, things happen, emotions start running a little higher. So, we got to find ways to be able to just dial back in, focus back in and be able to finish a practice.”