Five Players Off to a Great Start at Green Bay Packers Training Camp 2025

We are still in the first week of Green Bay Packers training camp for the 2025 season. While it’s still early and fully padded practices are just beginning, here’s a look at five players who are off to a great start at Packers training camp 2025. We discuss the players; the reason they’re on this list and what their potential strong play could mean for them going forward.

Five Players off to a Great Start at Packers Training Camp 2025, Number Five: K Brandon McManus

Kicker Brandon McManus enjoyed a nearly perfect debut season in Green Bay in 2024, making all his extra points and missing just one field goal during the regular season.

In training camp, the veteran kicker has been automatic. He made his first 15 field goal tries including three-of-three from 50 yards out or more. His long was a 56-yard effort.

The Packers need another strong season from McManus after struggling through a season and a half of inconsistent kicking after parting ways with Mason Crosby. So far, he’s off to a great start.

Number Four: WR Dontayvion Wicks

Dontayvion Wicks led the team in targets last season with 76 but was only fourth on the team with 39 catches. Drops were a problem all season. He had nine drops or a drop percentage of 11.8. The Packers need Wicks to cut down on the drops and take advantage of his speed and ability to get open when running pass patterns.

So far, Wicks has stood out in training camp and made some big plays. He is also holding on to almost every catchable ball sent his way.

Wicks may have more upside than any healthy veteran receiver on the Packers roster. He needs to continue to be consistent to solidify his spot in the lineup in what is now a crowded receiver room.

Five Players off to a Great Start at Packers Training Camp 2025, Number Three: CB Carrington Valentine

Carrington Valentine has a fight on his hands for playing time as camp started. He will battle with Keisean Nixon and newcomer Nate Hobbs for a spot at boundary corner. At the start of camp, Hobbs and Nixon were ahead of Valentine on the depth chart.

But Valentine has looked good thus far in camp. He had two interceptions during the first few days of practice and has done a good job in coverage. As usual, he’s played physically in coverage, and he’s done a good job of breaking up passes.

His goal is to carve out a bigger role for himself in the defense as he enters this third season in the NFL. He’s come a long way from being a seventh-round draft pick and now hopes to establish himself as a full-time starter.

Number Two: DT Kenny Clark

Kenny Clark is coming off the worst season of his NFL career statistically in 2024. The three-time Pro Bowler went from a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2023 to just one in 2024. He lacked the explosiveness coming off the snap of the ball that made him a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line throughout his career.

At OTAs, Clark revealed that he played last season with a broken big toe which hampered his effectiveness. Thus far in camp, Clark seems to be regaining his explosiveness and so far, he feels good.

“All that stuff is behind me,” Clark told reporters. “You don’t really know what to expect coming back, especially with the foot. Today I felt a lot more comfortable. I’m allowed to play free and be me.”

A healthy Clark would be a big improvement for the Packers defensive line in 2025, both when defending the run and rushing the quarterback.

Five Players off to a Great Start at Packers Training Camp 2025, Number One: WR Matthew Golden

During the first few days of training camp, first round pick Matthew Golden flashed the talent he has that made him the Packers first wide receiver taken in the first round since 2002.

Golden has been catching nearly everything thrown his way. The Packers receiving corps struggled with drops all season. One reason the Packers drafted him was because he has reliable hands.

The Packers have also utilized Golden on jet sweeps and end arounds, much like they did the last two seasons with Jayden Reed. Head coach Matt LaFleur appears to be at least auditioning Golden for that role to see how he handles it. It would be one way to ensure he gets a certain number of touches early on while he’s still learning the offense.

Golden still has work to do, but he’s made a good first impression at training camp.