Packers notes: Brian Gutekunst practicing patience after Jake Ryan injury
GREEN BAY - General manager Brian Gutekunst said Tuesday he wasn’t shopping for an inside linebacker after the knee injury to Jake Ryan.
Though the Green Bay Packers haven’t revealed the extent of Ryan’s injury suffered in practice Monday, it appeared serious and there’s a chance he will be out for the season. He was scheduled to undergo tests on his right knee Tuesday.
Behind Blake Martinez, the Packers have third-round pick Oren Burks, three undrafted free agents and a first-year player with no regular-season experience. It’s early in camp so there is time to figure out whether the young players can cut it or someone else like Clay Matthews or Vince Biegel can step into the position.
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“I think just kind of watching Ted (Thompson) all those years going through these scenarios, I think the best practice is patience,” Gutekunst said. “We have some young players that show some promise out there, and we’d kind of like them to continue to grow into those kind of roles and see what we have.
“At the same time, we’re kind of always on the scenes preparing for everything.”
Madison still absent
Fifth-round offensive lineman Cole Madison still hasn’t reported to camp and Gutekunst said he didn’t know if or when he would.
The Packers have said only that Madison did not report for personal reasons. He is on the reserve/did not report list, but would be eligible to practice as soon as he returns.
“We’ll give him some time to deal with that,” Gutekunst said. “That’s all I’ve got right now.”
Getting his kicks
Mason Crosby has not suffered from having a new holder and two new long snappers.
In two kicking sessions, Crosby has connected on 14 of 16 field goals.
Rookie punter JK Scott has held on all 16 attempts while long snappers Hunter Bradley and Zach Triner have split the snaps. Bradley, a seventh-round pick, has had the only two bad snaps of camp.
One of them was Tuesday and Crosby missed wide right after Scott dug the ball out and managed to get it placed.
Crosby hit from 32, 37, 39, 41, 43, 47 and 51 yards. His miss was from 49.
Rookie watch
In a change in the way he has done things in training camp, coach Mike McCarthy is matching up the No. 1 offense and defense during competitive drills to get those units cleaner looks.
The result is that many rookies must wait their turn and don’t get a lot of snaps with veteran players such as Aaron Rodgers or Matthews, but they do get to study what they’re doing.
Gutekunst said he has been able to get a feel for his first rookie class despite them working mostly with backups.
“I like the energy of the young guys,” Gutekunst said. “I think one of the really good things to see has just kind of been how they’ve latched onto some of the vets and taken their guidance.
“That’s one of those things as young players, that’s an important thing to see, that they’re looking to those guys. And also for our vets to be giving that advice. Communication has been outstanding, and the energy has been really, really good.”