Packers, Lions kick off camps
Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers runs a drill at the NFL football team's practice field June 7 in Green Bay, Wis. Rodgers will be getting accustomed to plenty of new receivers as the Packers open training camp without wideouts Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. (Morry Gash/AP file photo)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — While the NFL never seems to go away, the real work of preparing for the upcoming 2022 season will begin as teams report to their respective training camps this week.
Rookies for the Green Bay Packers were slated to report Friday, with veterans then reporting on Tuesday.
For the Detroit Lions, rookies will report to Allen Park on Saturday and later be joined by veterans on Tuesday.
The following is a glance at the training camps for the Packers and Lions.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-5):
CAMP SITE — Green Bay, Wisconsin.
LAST YEAR — QB Aaron Rodgers delivered a second straight MVP season as the Packers won a third consecutive NFC North title. The Packers earned the NFC’s top playoff seed for a second straight year, but again failed to reach the Super Bowl. The Packers’ season ended with a 13-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional playoffs, the second straight year they’ve lost a postseason game at home.
The Packers haven’t reached a Super Bowl since their 2010 championship season, though they have eight division titles and nine playoff berths in the 11 years since.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS — Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, QB coach Tom Clements, WR Romeo Doubs, CB Keisean Nixon, P Pat O’Donnell, OLBs coach Jason Rebrovich, DL Jarran Reed, OT/OG Sean Rhyan, OL Zach Tom, LB Quay Walker, WR Sammy Watkins, WR Christian Watson and DL Devonte Wyatt.
IMPORTANT LOSSES — WR Davante Adams, P Corey Bojorquez, LB Oren Burks, QB coach Luke Getsy, OC Nathaniel Hackett, TE coach Justin Outten, OG Lucas Patrick, WR Equanimeous St. Brown, OLB Preston Smith, CB Chandon Sullivan, OT Billy Turner and WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
CAMP NEEDS — Training camp will give Rodgers more time to work with the Packers new receivers as they adjust to life without Adams and Valdes-Scantling. The Packers brought in Watkins and drafted three receivers (Watson in the second round, Doubs in the fourth and Samori Toure in the seventh). The Packers also are monitoring the recoveries of OT David Bakhtiari, OG Elgton Jenkins, TE Robert Tonyan and RB/KR Kylin Hill from knee injuries.
KEY CAMP COMPETITIONS — The pecking order of receivers remains a question. Allen Lazard is the Packers only proven returning receiver. The Packers need to find out which rookie receivers are ready and whether Watkins can stay healthy and regain the form he showed earlier in his career. The Packers also must figure out which starting five to put on the offensive line and where to arrange them. The Packers have so many linemen who can play multiple positions that it gives them plenty of options. The key there is the health of Bakhtiari and Jenkins, their two best linemen.
EXPECTATIONS — The Packers will be legitimate Super Bowl contenders as long as Rodgers is leading the offense and playing at an MVP level, but they do have more questions than a year ago. They’re dealing with the most staff changes they’ve encountered during Matt LaFleur’s head coaching tenure. Former offensive line coach Adam Stenavich is a first-time coordinator and has a tough task replacing Hackett, now the Denver Broncos head coach. The uncertainty at wide receiver could force the Packers to lean more on their defense than usual, at least early on. The Packers also are counting on Bisaccia to upgrade a special teams unit that ranked as the league’s worst last season and was the deciding factor in their playoff loss.
FANDUEL SUPER BOWL ODDS — +1200.
DETROIT LIONS (3-13-1):
CAMP SITE — Allen Park, Michigan.
LAST YEAR — Detroit lost its first eight games under first-year coach Dan Campbell and rookie general manager Brad Holmes, failing to win until Week 13. The Lions had a relatively encouraging 3-3 finish, ending with their worst record since going 2-14 in 2009. Rookie OT Penei Sewell, drafted No. 7 overall, and fourth-round receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had solid seasons and provided hope for the future.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS — DE Aidan Hutchinson, No. 2 overall pick, WR Jameson Williams, No. 12 overall, DE Josh Paschal, No. 46 overall, WR DJ Chark Jr., S DeShon Elliott, LBs Jarrad Davis and CB Mike Hughes.
IMPORTANT LOSSES — OLB Trey Flowers and LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin.
CAMP NEEDS — Williams was drafted out of Alabama, coming off a left knee injury that knocked him out of the national championship game loss. Detroit does not need Williams to rush back, but it would help to know by the end of training camp if the speedy, big-play threat will be part of the team’s plans on offense early in the season.
KEY CAMP COMPETITIONS — Detroit addressed a weakness in the draft, taking Hutchinson and Paschal to help rush the passer. The rookies will compete with veterans Charles Harris and Romeo Okwara for starting jobs and playing time.
EXPECTATIONS — The Lions look as if they should be better on offense with Jared Goff returning for a second season. Goff is behind a solid line with a good pair of running backs, a standout tight end and an improved receiving group. Detroit’s defense, however, still looks shaky and that might lead to a fifth straight season with double digits in losses.
FANDUEL SUPER BOWL ODDS — +10,000.






