GREEN BAY – The Packers wrapped up the on-field portion their three-day minicamp Wednesday inside the Don Hutson Center. What was originally supposed to be an open-to-the-public workout at adjacent Ray Nitschke Field was nixed because of rain.
Inside, the team worked on their two-minute drill before breaking. Wide receiver Amari Rodgers had a particularly good showing, reeling passes with the No. 1 offense. Last season was a quiet one for the then-rookie third round draft pick, catching just four passes for 45 yards.
Also putting on a show with the No. 2 team was rookie wide reiver Samori Toure; he hauled in a pair of difficult passes from Jordan Love.
One player who spoke to local reporters for the first time in the Packers locker room was veteran wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Watkins’ career has been beset by injuries and unmet expectations, but he has shown flashes of brilliance, both on the playing field and Wednesday on the practice field, hauling in an Aaron Rodgers pass while two defenders were draped over his back.
“My career hasn’t been what I projected it to be,” Watkins said Wednesday, while looking ahead to training camp and then into the season. “It’s a great opportunity for me to come here, play hard, catch a ton of balls, compete at the highest level and win games and fight to stay healthy. That’s been the knock on my career – to stay on the field.”
While Wednesday’s workout was closed to the public, there were a pair of funny incidents. The first involved a family looking for what they thought was still an open workout. The group of five wandered into the Don Hutson Center unfettered for a few minutes before being ushered out. The Packers indoor facility has no fan support areas for spectators to view practice.
The second incident involved Aaron Rodgers and David Bakhtiari in Rodgers’ souped-up golf cart after practice zooming past the agape mouths of fans from mere feet away as they were visiting Lambeau Field. By the time those fans could comprehend their four-time MVP behind the wheel to take a picture, he was gone, leaving only stunned expressions on their faces.
Thursday the team announced that there will be an off-campus event for players and coaches only, which will conclude the mandatory part of the team’s offseason workouts. Next week there will be one final round of OTA’s before training camp begins.