PACKERS CAMP INSIDER Tuesday’s takeaways
❚ There’s a good chance most Green Bay Packers fans didn’t consider the name “Jake Kumerow” all off-season. But through one week of camp, the former UW-Whitewater transfer has done what perhaps nobody expected, putting himself in contention for a roster spot.
Kumerow, a receiver the Packers signed to a futures contract Jan. 2, didn’t figure to have a great chance at cracking the depth chart. The Packers drafted three receivers, filling the position with young, developmental talent. But through the first five practices in camp — three of them in pads — Kumerow has looked as good as J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown. He has rotated in with the first-team offense, even catching a swing pass from Aaron Rodgers on Monday.
Kumerow caught two touchdown passes in red-zone drills Tuesday. The second came after drawing a penalty from Packers cornerback Demetri Goodson, who dragged Kumerow to the ground after getting beaten on an out route. Kumerow got up limping — “just got my foot stepped on,” he said — and caught a touchdown pass against Goodson on the next rep.
But the highlight of Kumerow’s practice might have been an incompletion. Going against Tramon Williams in one-on-one drills, Kumerow used a double move to entice the veteran cornerback to bite hard on an underneath pass. He then turned upfield and, if not for his feet getting tangled, would have had an easy touchdown.
To make the Packers’ roster, Kumerow need many more days like Tuesday. But he’s off to the right start.
❚ Bryan Bulaga’s return to the practice field appears to be getting closer.
The ninth-year right tackle has spent most of his first week in camp doing footwork drills in a far corner at Ray Nitschke Field. Off to the side Tuesday, Bulaga worked on his back step and did high-sidestep drills while wearing a brace over his surgically repaired right knee.
He said after practice his knee feels good.
“I’ve done a lot of testing,” Bulaga said. “I’ve done the trainers specific testing: single leg, double leg, strength. I’ve done all of those things, and I’ve passed all those things. So I think for me, the next hurdle is getting back on the field, and then testing it against doing individual with the O-linemen and pushing on guys that are 300-plus pounds, and seeing how it responds the next day and kind of just building a good progression up.”
Bulaga has said the biggest hurdle keeping him from practice is time. He’s not yet nine months removed from tearing his ACL, which is considered the standard minimum for returning. That date is coming up Aug. 6.
QB watch
A day after Rodgers threw three interceptions, the Packers’ defense didn’t get a single pick. Coming closest was second-year outside linebacker Vince Biegel, who dropped what would’ve been Rodgers’ eighth interception of camp. DeShone Kizer had a pair of nice touchdown throws in the red-zone drill, including the perfect fade pass to Kumerow against Goodson. Brett Hundley continues to get second-team reps behind Rodgers.
Bits and pieces
❚ With safety Kentrell Brice and inside linebacker Jake Ryan unable to practice because of injury, there are more reps to distribute. On Tuesday, it appeared most of those reps were going to safety Jermaine Whitehead and linebacker Ahmad Thomas. Whitehead, who played 10 games last season, got first-team reps in the sub-package and appears to be ahead of Marwin Evans on the depth chart. Perhaps he could push fellow safety Josh Jones for playing time. Thomas would especially benefit if Ryan misses a significant amount of time, perhaps earning a job on the 53-man roster. He was third in the inside linebacker rotation Tuesday, behind Blake Martinez and rookie Oren Burks.
❚ Jimmy Graham caught his first touchdown pass from Rodgers in team drills. Graham leaped over cornerback Herb Waters to catch Rodgers’ high pass. A huge target, it probably won’t be the last time Graham catches a red-zone touchdown from Rodgers.
Injury report
Brice (ankle) and DL Mike Daniels (quad) did not practice but watched on the field. Brice was noticeably limping after being carted off the field Monday. Ryan (knee) was not at practice. Coach Mike McCarthy said Ryan was getting tests done Tuesday and he had no timeline for his return. Fullback Joe Kerridge (shoulder) also missed practice.
Practice schedule
The next practice is 11:15 a.m. Thursday at Ray Nitschke Field.