Top 2020 training camp battles for Packe

[seestyle 0]

Training camps are underway around the NFL, and that means it's full speed ahead (for now) in the lead-up to the 2020 season. With the entire preseason schedule wiped out as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will have more pre sure than ever to analyze position battles and make key lineup decisions for the fall.Fresh off a trip to the NFC Championship Game, the would appear not to be at too much of a disadvantage because of their 2019 succe s. But that would be underselling some of the vital competitions set to occur in their camp. may believe he's down the road, but this is still his team in 2020, and a number of the Packers' biggest positional battles could have a big effect on his supporting cast in Matt LaFleur's second season running the ship Austin Blythe Jersey .Here are five of the most important ones to keep an eye on:Rodgers joined Packers fans this week by wondering aloud why Green Bay didn't capitalize on a deep receiver cla s in April, but we might be understating the uncertainty here. is a borderline top-five talent when healthy, but there are two i sues. For starters, Adams isn't always healthy; he's mi sed time in four of his six seasons, including seven games since 2017. That's not an overwhelming injury history, but it exacerbates the second i sue: Green Bay has basically zero other proven WRs. may be a fun story for an ex-undrafted reserve, and he had some nice catches in a decent showing as an emergency fill-in in 2019, but he projects as more of a No. 3. His catch rate over the final seven games was a mediocre 58.8 percent, and even if you want to write that off to Rodgers misfires, it's a lot to expect him to produce as an every-week starter. With under-the-radar breakout candidate opting out of the 2020 season, you're left with a bunch of hit-or-mi s backups: Equanimeous St. Brown, and a pool of undrafted rookies. This might sound like a broken record if you' Brian Allen Jersey ve followed the team this offseason, but the Packers would really be wise to bolster this competition, especially now that Funche s is out of the picture, by exploring the trade market. Someone like or would be a welcome addition to a bunch that lacks both pop and experience outside of Adams.You could pretty much pair this one with the receivers, because the entire pa s-catching group is a question mark. (Which, again, is a pretty big deal when you've got Rodgers approaching his 40s and apparently nearing the close of his Green Bay window.) The difference is the TE group doesn't even have a Davante Adams. Nine-year vet is penciled in as the starter, but the more likely scenario -- or at least the ideal one, for the Packers -- is 2019 third-rounder coming off an injury-riddled rookie year to steal the job. failed to live up to the hype during his tenure here, but now it's up to the crop of replacements to prove their own worth as red-zone targets for Rodgers.Notice a theme here? Rodgers is still a top-tier quarterback, but there are lots of questions to be answered about his supporting cast. Admittedly, running Rob Havenstein Jersey back isn't as huge of an i sue, in part because it's a pa sing league and in part because LaFleur is already committed -- and smart -- enough to make the ground game work with whomever is toting the rock the most. Still, Green Bay spent one of its first two draft picks this April on a player at this position, which means we should be in for a three-way fight for touches behind No. 12. is the clear-cut No. 1 after a 1,000-yard performance in 2019, but he's got incentive to retain as many carries as he can going into a contract year. His injury history is also a factor; Jones mi sed four games in each of his first two seasons before playing 16 a year ago. , meanwhile, could face serious competition from second-rounder A.J. Dillon, whose physicality alone should tempt LaFleur to get him on the field. Could we be in for more of a San Francisco-style rotation? Either way, Dillon's ability to contribute right away could go a long way in defining LaFleur's strategy for this season.Arguably the Packers' biggest non-move of the offseason was allowing to test the market and then leave via free agency. You Merlin Olsen Jersey can debate whether Green Bay was right to balk at his price tag; the are paying him $10 million per year through 2022. But you can't deny the consistent production he brought to the middle of Green Bay's defense, totaling more than 140 tackles in three straight seasons, not to mention eight sacks, an interception and a forced fumble over the last two.The competition to fill Martinez's spot at ILB will mostly involve , the former standout, and 2018 third-rounder , who started four games as a rookie. Second-year reserve , who played all 16 games in 2019, is also in the mix at the position. The Bobby Evans Jersey Packers have a chance to strike gold if Kirksey can somehow stay healthy, as the former Browns vet was also a tackle machine in his heyday. But chances are they'll also need a step up from some of the young guns. The outside spots are set, with and locked into starting jobs. It's the nickel spot that remains officially unfilled. manned the role in 2019, but at 37, he's still sitting on the open market and probably won't be back unle s things look really grim come September. This'll be an open battle between former second-rounder , 2019 sixth-rounder Ka'dar Hollman and second-year man , though Alexander and safety are also capable of sliding into the slot.