Training Camp Set to Begin in Green Bay Save the Date The
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Packers Communications l Lambeau Field Atrium l 1265 Lombardi Avenue l Green Bay, WI 54304 l 920/569-7500 l 920/569-7201 fax Jason Wahlers, Sarah Quick, Tom Fanning, Nathan LoCascio VOL. XX; NO. 2 2018 TRAINING CAMP TRAINING CAMP SET TO BEGIN IN GREEN BAY THE MONTH AHEAD A day circled on the calendar of every sports fan – the official beginning Green Bay’s training camp schedule features 15 open practices, including Family Night, and four preseason games. of the NFL season – will arrive this Thursday when the Green Bay Packers u Training camp kicks off with an 11:30 a.m. practice on Thursday, July kick off the 2018 campaign at Ray Nitschke Field. 26. Green Bay finishes the opening week with an 11:30 a.m. practice on Friday, July 27 and an 11:15 a.m. practice on Saturday, July 28. u A tradition first started under Curly Lambeau in 1946, u The Packers will hold four practices (July 30-31 and August 2-3), all training camp in Green Bay remains one of the most inti- beginning at 11:15 a.m., before Family Night takes place at Lambeau mate settings in all of professional sports. 2018 marks Field on Saturday, Aug. 4. u The following week, the team will have two open practices at Nitschke the 10th summer at Nitschke Field, just a short bike ride Field, 12:15 p.m. on Aug. 6 and 11:45 a.m. on Aug. 7, prior to the pre- away from the team facility. season opener at home against the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 9. u Nitschke Field has seating for 1,500 fans with unob- u Following the preseason contest against the Titans, Green Bay will hold two open practices (12:15 p.m. on Aug. 12 and 11:45 a.m. on Aug. 13), structed views. before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 16. u Just as it does at Lambeau Field, new traditions blend with historic ones u The Packers will have two open practices, 12:15 p.m. on Aug. 20 and at Packers training camp, as players continue to ride children’s bicycles 11:45 a.m. on Aug. 21, leading into a preseason road game in Oakland versus the Raiders on Aug. 24. to practice, a tradition first started under the legendary Vince Lombardi. uThe team’s final open practice of training camp will take place at 11:45 Players continue to stay in the dorms at St. Norbert College, the NFL’s a.m. on Aug. 27 prior to the preseason finale against the Chiefs in Kansas City on Aug. 30. longest training-camp relationship between a team and school. u As part of the 100 Seasons celebration, the beginning of this year’s train- PRESEASON ing camp includes the Packers Experience, a free, four-day festival with Date Opponent Time (CT) TV Thu., Aug. 9 TENNESSEE TITANS ................7 p.m. Packers TV activities and entertainment for fans of all ages. (Bishop’s Charities Game) u According to the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau Thu., Aug. 16 PITTSBURGH STEELERS (Gold Pkg.) ...7 p.m. Packers TV and a 2010 study by AECOM, training camp, along with Packers Family (Midwest Shrine Game) Night, will attract nearly 90,000 visitors from across the nation and as Fri., Aug. 24 at Oakland Raiders ..............9:30 p.m. Packers TV Thu., Aug. 30 at Kansas City Chiefs.............7:30 p.m. Packers TV many as 20 foreign countries. With an economic impact estimated at $9 All preseason games on Packers TV will also appear on Telemundo Wisconsin million, training camp is a financial boost to many area businesses. REGULAR SEASON u Media and fans can visit www.packers.com for the most up-to-date Date Opponent Time (CT) TV information regarding the practice schedule, events, dining and accom- Sun., Sept. 9 CHICAGO BEARS................7:20 p.m. NBC modation options, activities and more throughout training camp. Sun., Sept. 16 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (Gold Pkg.) ....12 p.m. FOX Sun., Sept. 23 at Washington Redskins ............12 p.m. FOX Sun., Sept. 30 BUFFALO BILLS...................12 p.m. CBS SAVE THE DATE Sun., Oct. 7 at Detroit Lions ..................*12 p.m. FOX Important dates to remember (all times CDT): Mon., Oct. 15 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS ..........7:15 p.m. ESPN u Thursday, July 26 – First practice, 11:30 a.m., Nitschke Field Sun., Oct. 21 BYE Sun., Oct. 28 at Los Angeles Rams............*3:25 p.m. FOX u – Packers Family Night, Presented by Bellin Health, Saturday, Aug. 4 Sun., Nov. 4 at New England Patriots .........*7:20 p.m. NBC 6:25 p.m., Lambeau Field Sun., Nov. 11 MIAMI DOLPHINS (Gold Pkg.) ......*12 p.m. CBS uThursday, Aug. 9 – Preseason game vs. Tennessee Titans, Thu., Nov. 15 at Seattle Seahawks..............7:20 p.m. FOX/NFLN 7 p.m., Lambeau Field (Bishop’s Charities Game) Sun., Nov. 25 at Minnesota Vikings............*7:20 p.m. NBC Sun., Dec. 2 ARIZONA CARDINALS.............*12 p.m. FOX u – Preseason game vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday, Aug. 16 Sun., Dec. 9 ATLANTA FALCONS...............*12 p.m. FOX 7 p.m., Lambeau Field (Midwest Shrine Game) Sun., Dec. 16 at Chicago Bears .................*12 p.m. FOX u Friday, Aug. 24 – Preseason game at Oakland Raiders, Sat., Dec. 23 at New York Jets .................*12 p.m. FOX 9:30 p.m., Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Sun., Dec. 30 DETROIT LIONS .................*12 p.m. FOX *—Start time and broadcast may shift due to NFL flexible scheduling u Monday, Aug. 27 – Final practice open to public, 11:45 a.m., Nitschke Field NFL POSTSEASON DATES u – Preseason game Kansas City Chiefs, Jan. 5-6 ................................................ AFC and NFC Wild Card Playoffs Thursday, Aug. 30 Jan. 12-13 .............................................AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs 7:30 p.m., Arrowhead Stadium Jan. 20 ............................................AFC and NFC Championship Games u Saturday, Sept. 1 – Roster reduction to a maximum of 53 players Jan. 27 .......................Pro Bowl, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla. by 3 p.m. Feb. 3 .................Super Bowl LIII, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga. 2018 TRAINING CAMP OFFSEASON CHANGES u The Packers selected CB Josh Jackson out of Iowa in the second The Green Bay Packers saw some changes to the front office, the coaching round. He was named a permanent team captain on defense in 2017 staff and to the roster this offseason. and was a consensus first-team All-American as well as first-team All- Big Ten by the league’s coaches and media after setting career highs in uAfter Ted Thompson made the transition to senior advisor to foot- games started (13), tackles (48), solo tackles (34), passes defensed (26, ball operations, Brian Gutekunst was named general manager and No. 1 in the nation), interception return yards (168, No. 2 in the nation) Russ Ball was promoted to exective vice president/director of football operations. and forced fumbles (one). Jackson’s career-best eight interceptions led the nation and tied the single-season school record. u Head Coach Mike McCarthy made numerous changes to his coaching u LB became the seventh player to be drafted out of staff, including bringing back Joe Philbin as offensive coordinator and Oren Burks Vanderbilt in team history when the Packers used a selection obtained adding Mike Pettine as defensive coordinator. From 2007-11, Philbin was Green Bay’s offensive coordinator, directing a unit that ranked No. 3 from Carolina (third round, No. 88 overall) in exchange for a fourth- in the NFL over that span in points per game (28.3), touchdowns (267), round pick (No. 101) and a fifth-round pick (No. 147). He was named to passing touchdowns (170) and total net yards per game (372.8). In his the Butkus Award watch list in 2017 and went on to post career highs in five years as a defensive coordinator, (New York Jets, 2009-12; Buffalo tackles (82), solo tackles (45) and tackles for a loss (seven) in his first Bills, 2013), Pettine led his units to a top-10 finish in total yards allowed season at inside linebacker. and passing yards allowed in all five seasons. u In the fourth round (No. 133 overall), the Packers selected WR J’Mon , making him the highest-drafted wide receiver out of Missouri uOther additions to the coaching staff were Jim Hostler as offense – Moore since Jeremy Maclin in 2009 (Philadelphia Eagles, No. 19 overall). pass game coordinator, Patrick Graham as defense – run game coor- Moore was named second-team All-Southeastern Conference in 2016 dinator/inside linebackers, Frank Cignetti Jr. as quarterbacks coach, (The Associated Press) and 2017 (AP and coaches). Ryan Downard as defensive quality control coach and Maurice u With the first of three picks in the fifth round (No. 138 overall), Green Drayton as assistant special teams coach. uMcCarthy also promoted some coaches who were already on the Bay selected G Cole Madison, the highest-drafted lineman out of Washington State since T Scott Sanderson was selected in the third staff, naming James Campen offense – run game coordinator/ round by the Tennessee Oilers in 1997. Madison was a three-time All- offensive line, Joe Whitt Jr. defense – pass game coordinator, Jerry Pacific-12 selection, earning second-team honors as a senior in 2017 Montgomery defensive line coach, David Raih wide receivers coach and honorable mention as a junior and as a sophomore. and Jason Simmons secondary coach. u The Packers drafted P out of Alabama with their second uGreen Bay added players as well this offseason including former JK Scott selection (No.