Jaire Alexander is expected to be at minicamp. (Photo: © Sam Navarro, USA TODAY Sports)
By Mark Eckel
Jaire Alexander is expected to be there. Will Elgton Jenkins be there as well?
Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers open a three-day mandatory minicamp and the biggest storyline will be on whether Alexander and Jenkins, two Pro Bowl players in the midst of contract talks, are present.
Alexander, who was in the center of trade talks right up until the draft, is reportedly working on a new deal with the team that will lower his salary camp number. Jenkins, who is being asked to move from left guard to center, reportedly wants some assurances for his future worth due to the position change. Neither player showed for the voluntary sessions last month.
As far as what to watch for in the three days of "practice'' here's one thing from each position group.
Quarterbacks: This will be the first real look at Taylor Elgersma, the rookie from Canada, who impressed the team in a tryout. Elgersma will attempt to wrestle the No. 3/practice squad job from Sean Clifford.
Running Backs: Hopefully 2024 third-round draft pick Marshawn Lloyd is healthy and shows why the team thought so much of him in that '24 draft.
Wide Receivers: It doesn't mean a lot in June, but it will still be interesting to see the pecking order here and where rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden and rookie third-round pick Savion Williams fit in the rotations
Tight Ends: A healthy Luke Musgrave might provide a lot of two tight-end looks with emerging star Tucker Kraft. Musgrave and Kraft could bring back memories of Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson to older Packers fans.
Offensive Line: This will be the most interesting position to watch. And it has the most questions to be answered. Will 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan get more work at left tackle or right guard? Where does this year's second-round pick Anthony Belton get most of his snaps? If Jenkins doesn't show, does Sean Rhyan move to center with the ones? If Jenkins does show, how does he look at his old college position? How does this year's seventh-round pick John Williams look? This will be watched all the way through camp.
Defensive Line: The eyes here should be on 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness. It was revealed last week that he played through a broken thumb last year which obviously affected his play. Also watch to see how often he moves inside, which would most likely be on passing downs.
Linebackers: How is the team going to use former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons? The opinion here is he is mostly going to be on special teams. However, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley might have some schemes where he's a good fit.
Secondary: If Alexander is there, who runs with the first team opposite him? It's likely Keisean Nixon outside and Nate Hobbs in the slot. But we'll have to wait and see. Also watch and see if 2024 second-round pick Javon Bullard gets more work in the slot or at safety.