Bulaga bulks up for comeback season
David Bakhtiari isn't the only Packers tackle who bulked up this offseason.
Coming off a season-ending knee surgery, Bryan Bulaga worked out at the Florida-based IMG Academy since Week 6 last season with the goal of coming back heavier than his listed weight of 314 pounds.
Bulaga didn't go into specifics, but reached the weight he wanted to achieve and plans to stay there.
With how well Bakhtiari played as Bulaga's rookie replacement at left tackle, the Packers decided to leave the 2013 fourth-round pick stationed there and slide Bulaga back to the right side where he started for his first three seasons before hip and knee injuries hit.
"I'm playing a little bit heavier and moving just as well as I did," said Bulaga, who continues to wearing a brace on the surgically repaired knee. "I'm happy with all that. Physically, my body feels better."
On the opposite end of the locker room, Rodgers continued his praise of Bakhtiari, who looks significantly thicker than his rookie season when he was susceptible to the bull rush.
Bakhtiari still has 2011 first-round pick Derek Sherrod on his heels for the starting job, but Rodgers feels his fellow Californian has what it takes to succeed going forward.
"David Bakhtiari's a guy who can play at left tackle for 10-plus years, if he keeps himself healthy and continues to progress," Rodgers said.
Extra points
-The Packers struggled to keep quarterback Aaron Rodgers and rookie running back Eddie Lacy on the field at the same time last season, but the NFL's reigning offensive rookie of the year is excited about the potential.
"You have the greatest quarterback in the league and we have a bunch of running backs. You put two-and-two together," Lacy said. "You have an opportunity to be dangerous back there."
-Micah Hyde took all the first-team snaps at safety ahead of first-round pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on Saturday.
Clinton-Dix worked mostly with Sean Richardson and Chris Banjo on the second-team unit, but still has 20 more practices to overtake the converted cornerback for the starting gig. The Packers value both players, so it's entirely possible defensive coordinator Dom Capers will find ways to incorporate both in sub-packages.
At the moment, however, it's still Hyde lining up from veteran Morgan Burnett just like during the offseason program.
-Packers coach Mike McCarthy may still view Jermichael Finley as a Green Bay Packer, but the team has taken down the seventh-year tight end's name plate from his locker and replaced with a generic Packers' insignia.
-Outside linebacker Carl Bradford, a fourth-round pick in May's draft, has changed to No. 54 with undrafted rookie Jayrone Elliott now wearing Bradford's previous No. 91.