The Green Bay Packers welcomed the Baltimore Ravens to Ray Nitschke Field for a one-day joint practice on Thursday. The joint practice represented the final open practice of training camp and the last practice before the Packers’ preseason finale against the Ravens on Saturday.
John Harbaugh’s team — featuring Lamar Jackson at quarterback and one of the NFL’s best defenses — is expected to be one of the best in football again in 2024, so this was a strong test for the Packers coming off a disappointing couple of days in Denver.
Did the Packers bounce back?
Here are six things to know:
Packers end with big wins in two-minute
We just watched six two-minute drills:
Packers O 1s: Carlson 35-yarder to tie
Packers O 2s: Joseph 51-yarder to tie
Packers O 3s: Carlson 51-yarder to tie
Packers D 1s: Tucker misses 62-yarder to tie
Packers D 2s: Evan Williams INT
Packers D 3: Force turnover on downs
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 22, 2024
The Packers and Ravens finished the joint practice with six different two-minute situations, and the Packers “won” all three. All three offenses got into field goal range and converted the game-tying points, while the defenses recorded three stops, including one featuring an Evan Williams interception. The No. 1 offense drove over 50 yards to set up a short field goal for Anders Carlson, while the No. 1 defense won the situation after a sack helped force Justin Tucker to attempt a 62-yard field goal, which he missed.
Strong day for Carlson
Carlson hits his 51-yard fg to tie the game in red zone period.
Today:
Carlson 5/5
Joseph 3/4Camp totals:
Anders Carlson: 59/72 – 81.9%
Greg Joseph: 57/73 – 78.1%
Alex Hale: 14/21 – 66.7% https://t.co/6P5cOWTLYs— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) August 22, 2024
Anders Carlson had a strong day, finishing 5-for-5 on kicks, including a pair of game-tying conversions in the two-minute drill. The Packers need a kicker to emerge from the competition, and Carlson appears to be building a lead here late. He was perfect in last Friday’s joint practice in Denver and perfect Thursday, and he made all three of his kicks in the preseason opener. It’s looking more and more like Carlson’s job to lose over the last few days of camp.
Red-zone dominance from Jordan Love
In red zone, Jordan Love completed 6-7 passes for 42 yards. 4 TDs inside 10-yard line.
9-yard check to Tucker Kraft (great YAC)
6-yard stop to Romeo Doubs
4-yard out to Christian Watson
3-yard out to Doubs— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 22, 2024
Jordan Love was terrific in the red zone, throwing four touchdown passes on seven attempts. He hit Romeo Doubs twice for scores, Christian Watson made an impressive catch over Kyle Hamilton and Tucker Kraft scored on a screen. Keep in mind, the Ravens were the second-best defense in football at denying touchdowns in the red zone last season. Situationally, the Packers offense had a terrific practice.
Tucker Kraft emerges
Love almost gets picked again by Smith on shallow cross. Gets free play on offside but can’t connect with Doubs. Diving try by Watson on sideline out is no good. Finishes sequence with bullet off play action to Kraft over the middle, Kraft’s 5th catch today.
— Mike Spofford (@mikespofford) August 22, 2024
He missed the first part of training camp while recovering from offseason surgery, but Kraft is starting to come on as Week 1 nears. He was productive on Thursday, catching at least five passes in 11-on-11 work. The Packers found him in the passing game in a variety of ways, including the screen in the red zone, another completion on a designed rollout and another big gain over the middle of the field. Kraft is going to be a big part of this offense in 2024.
Clifford and Heath connect
Clifford with another nice throw on deep in cut by Heath. That’s 2 explosive plays from that pair today. Ravens D reserves stiffened after that.
— Mike Spofford (@mikespofford) August 22, 2024
In Denver on Sunday, Sean Clifford just barely overshot Malik Heath on what would have been a big gain against the Broncos No. 1 defense. On Thursday, the quarterback-receiver combo connected twice, including on a deep ball against first-round pick Nate Wiggins early in the practice. Michael Pratt also hit Grant DuBose for a big gain down the field. Heath and DuBose might be competing for just one open roster spot at receiver.
Win the line of scrimmage
Lamar is running for his life out here and not by design. https://t.co/nZJs0jAfYQ
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 22, 2024
Games are so often won and lost in the trenches, and the Packers had a nice day along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The defensive front was disruptive against NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense, creating several pressures and potential sacks, while Jordan Love was mostly well protected against one of the NFL’s best defenses from a year ago. The Ravens are tough and physical up front, so the Packers got terrific work along the offensive and defensive lines and held up well.
