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Takeaways from the Green Bay Packers' first rookie minicamp practice

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GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur is on the injured list, but it didn't stop him from taking a wide-spectrum view of the team's first rookie minicamp practice.

LaFleur is wearing a sling on his left arm, which he said is the result of a chest injury he suffered while lifting weights.

"I got in a little fight with the bench press," he joked after Friday's practice.

The practice included 11 draft picks, eight undrafted free agents, 17 tryout players and 15 returning players who haven't earned a full season under the NFL's pension plan and are eligible to take part.

It was the first time LaFleur was on the field with his new defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, and the rest of the new defensive coaches, so it wasn't just players learning the way LaFleur runs things. Up to this point, all the veterans have been able to do is take part in strength and conditioning and a few drills, so this was the first full practice.

Asked what he paid attention to the most during the practice, he said:

"The big picture. There's a lot of new faces around here from coaches to players. So, you're watching a lot of the coaches coach for the first time. You know, coaching football.  I mean, we've been in our Phase Two with our vets;  it's been all basically positional drills.

"But to get to see them out there interacting when we're actually running plays, it was good to see."

Here are some other subjects LaFleur addressed:

Some of the Packers tryout players drew attention

Among the tryout players who are taking part in the minicamp are third-year quarterback Jacob Eason and former Wisconsin Badgers guard Michael Furtney.

The others were:

Among the players who stood out were Stanley and Hightower.

LaFleur said the coaches will spend time after the camp going through the practices to see if it would be worth signing any of the unsigned players.

"That's always," LaFleur said. "Matter of fact, we had some discussions out on the field today. So, they've already started. That's when you have to go back and watch the tape to really get a better vantage point of how they performed.

"But some guys flash out there on certain plays and it sparks your interest. As long as they're out there on the field, they have an opportunity."

Packers rookies will go home, return the week of May 13

LaFleur had the option of waiting a week to hold the minicamp.

The rookies can't begin work with veterans until May 13, so some teams have the minicamp two weeks after the draft and then have the rookies stay for good for the offseason workouts.

Injury update:Packers rookie safety Kitan Oladapo has toe surgery, expected to be back in time for training camp

LaFleur wanted to give the rookies a chance to go home before returning for the long haul.

"I think you want to get them in right away and try to give them the information so that when they get here in Phase Two (with the vets), they've got a chance. Now they've got a week to kind of go home after this and digest what they've learned here.

"You kind of want to prime them for what they're going to experience when they come back a week from now in terms of just how hard they've got to go in everything that they do.

"And so we're going to stress tomorrow, the importance of wherever they go from here, you better be working out. Because when you get here, you got one week of Phase Two, and then we're back into football.

"So, I think this is a very good educational experience for them in terms of just how we practice, the standards that we have when we go off on the practice field. get them acclimated to the building, going from meetings to walk-throughs to practice. And so hopefully they have a better chance to kind of acclimate faster when they get back."

Why Alex McGough was moved from quarterback to wide receiver

In addition to Jordan Love and backup Sean Clifford, the Packers picked up quarterback Michael Pratt in the seventh round of the draft.

It means they may not need another quarterback during training camp.

Rather than cut practice squad quarterback Alex McGough, the Packers asked him to try receiver.

"He's just he's a really athletic guy," LaFleur said. "And one thing that you guys didn't get to see last year is he spent a lot of time on the practice squad on the scout team running receiver routes. I mean, he did such a great job.

"And you know, we feel like he's just such a talented athlete, why not give him a chance there? He's a smart guy, works his tail off. I think he can definitely contribute on "we-fense" (special teams) as well. So we felt like that might be his best chance here."

Packers inside linebackers had a good day

LaFleur was on the other side of the field when second-round inside linebacker Edgerrin Cooper made a leaping one-handed interception in an individual drill.

But it doesn't mean Cooper didn't catch his eye elsewhere. Cooper and third-round pick Ty'Ron Hopper saw a lot of time on the field at inside linebacker. Hopper had to leave practice for a short time because of an upset stomach, but he returned quickly.

"I thought they really stood out," LaFleur said. "My opinion was, it was a great Day 1. But there's a long way to go and they've got a lot to learn."

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