Earlier this afternoon, the Packers announced that kicker Brandon McManus (right quad) has been added to the injury report and is DOUBTFUL for tomorrow’s game at the New York Giants. Additionally, WR Malik Heath (coach’s decision) will not travel with the team and will be OUT for tomorrow’s game against the Giants. The ongoing kicker drama takes another turn after hearing all week how well McManus had kicked in practice and that his problematic quad had finally returned to normal - only to have McManus reportedly have a setback today when he told the team he was feeling some tightness in his kicking leg.  As for Heath, when the team declares something a "coach's decision" you can safely assume it is disciple related. You can bet Matt LaFleur will be asked about it after the Giants game.  Filed Under: Packers News   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Tags: green bay packersBrandon McManusMalik Heath Like 0 points

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Filed Under: Packer Fan PodcastsPack's What She Said   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Carolina PanthersTags: Green Bay PackersPack's What She Said Like 0 points

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Filed Under: FeaturedAaron Nagler#PackersDailyPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Tags: Green Bay PackersMicah Parsons Like 1 points

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Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst play in two ends of the receiver pool: rookies/low-end cheap veterans, or elite players. Right now, the Packers have no one to pay so draft picks it is.

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Vince Lombardi is, of course, known for being one of the greatest coaches in the history of professional sports and for having his name emblazoned on the Super Bowl trophy. But every year I am surprised by how many of my high school students are unaware of another legacy of his: creating a culture free of prejudice.  There are lots of stories of Lombardi pushing back against ingrained cultures of racism while he was coaching the Packers. Green Bay was an especially difficult place for many black athletes to come to; an extremely white region that was by far the smallest city in the NFL, many Packer players would stand out like a sore thumb around town. Lombardi made it a team policy to forbid players and staff from going to any restaurant, bar, or other business that denied services to black players. He also served as a minister to offer a blessing for an interracial marriage between Lional Aldridge and his wife. And at a time when few coaches would put black men on their staff, Lombardi gave opportunities that many of them might not have received elsewhere. But in Pride Month, it's important to also remember Lombardi as an ally to the gay community at a time when being gay was considered almost unspeakably horrific. This was influenced in part by Lombardi having a gay younger brother.  The most famous example of this is a story about Lombardi saying of a gay player, "If I hear one of you people make reference to his manhood, you'll be out of here before your ass hits the ground." Others who played for and worked with Lombardi believed he knew that a couple Washington executives and players were also gay, and that Lombardi protected them. As much as all of his victories and championships cemented his legacy, this only further supports his legacy as one of the great figures in sports history.  Filed Under: FeaturedTim Backes   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins. __________________________ Tags: Vince LombardiPride Month Like 0 points

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The Green Bay Packers did not address the defensive line position until the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. That means that the team is counting primarily on improvement from within to improve the pass rush from the front four in Jeff Hafley’s defense. The Packers are hoping that several of their defensive linemen will step up and improve their play in 2025 as they enter year two of the new 4-3 base defense Hafley installed last year. One player who saw his play fall off dramatically in 2024 was defensive tackle Kenny Clark. The former first round pick out of UCLA went to the Pro Bowl in 2023 after a career-high 7.5 sacks. In 2024, he went down to just one sack. His tackles for loss also fell from nine to four and his quarterback hits were reduced from 16 to five. Clark played through injuries, but the Packers need him to return closer to his previous play where he did a better job of holding up at the point of attack and penetrating the line of scrimmage to make plays. Rashan Gary also failed to live up to expectations as a pass rusher in 2024 although his run defense improved significantly. Gary led the Packers with 7.5 sacks but still fell short of his career-best 9.5 which he set back in 2021. The knee injury that cost him the second half of the 2022 season should be far behind him, and he now should be more comfortable in Hafley’s defense. That should give Gary a chance to have a better year in 2025. The Packers are hoping for a breakout season from former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness. The Iowa alum enters his third season in the NFL but has yet to start a game or develop into an elite pass rusher. Van Ness has the physical tools to get to the quarterback but still needs to refine his technique and develop alternative moves. He compiled just three sacks last season after recording four in his rookie campaign. If Van Ness can take a big step forward, he can give the Pack another dangerous pass rushing weapon off the edge. Brenton Cox, Jr. finally got time in the pass rush rotation in the final seven games of the 2024 season after the Packers traded Preston Smith. Cox recorded four sacks and seven quarterback hits in limited action, playing just 35 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in those seven games. Cox had early round talent but ended up not being drafted because of some off the field issues he had in college. If given the chance, he could live up to his original promise or at least be a solid rotational player who can get pressure on the quarterback when called upon. The Packers picked up the fifth-year option on defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. The former Georgia star may get more playing time this season depending on where they have him line up. He has only started five games in his first three NFL seasons but has demonstrated the ability to rush the passer. Wyatt has 10.5 sacks total over the last two seasons and could help give the Packers some juice from the interior of the line, especially in obvious passing situations. He needs to improve his play against the run to take on an every down role. Kinglsey Enagbare will be entering the final year of his contract this season. The former South Carolina star had 4.5 sacks last season and will be one more year removed from the injury he suffered in the Packers playoff win over Dallas in January of 2024. Enagbare stepped in as the starter opposite Gary for the final seven games of the season when Smith was traded. The Packers may also get some help from rookies Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver who were drafted in the fourth and fifth rounds this year. They are expected to be rotational pass rushers and anything they add in 2025 would be considered a bonus. The Packers are hoping for improved pressure from their front four in 2025. If even some of these players step up and play better this season, they may very well get it. Filed Under: FeaturedGil Martin   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Green Bay PackersRashan GaryLukas Van NessKenny ClarkBrenton Cox Like 0 points

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Interesting that the draft in Green Bay had the most-watched Day 3 ever with over 4.3 million viewers, 43% more than last year's draft. Can you think of a Green Bay related reason for this? The Packers signed Isaiah Simmons to a contract very similar to that of Mecole Hardman. The important part of each contract is that the Packers can easily cut either player with minimal financial implications (Hardman 150k guaranteed, Simmons 167.5K guaranteed). Smart roll of the dice on two players with some elite athletic traits. If just one of them pans out and actually contributes, it's a home run. Just in case you need more evidence of Barryn Sorrell's character and drive, Bill Huber got this quote from Jack Gilmore, the Senior Bowl's director of Football Operations:  “First of all,” Gilmore said, “he was the only Texas player to play in our game and we invited at least five. So, while it wasn’t the popular thing to do in Austin to come to Mobile, Barryn Sorrell didn’t care. He came and he competed and he stayed throughout the whole week. So, I think I want to start there and just acknowledge that. I think that shows how competitive Barryn is.” The Packers; fifth-year option decisions went as I expected, with Devonte Wyatt getting locked up for the next two years and Quay Walker left out in the cold. Not really, though - all indications are they want to work on an extension for Walker so they can apply some of the contract to this year's cap space. He would have been in line for a $10M raise in 2026 if the option was picked up and that was just unreasonable. Having said that, I was as critical of Walker as anyone, but he definitely improved over the second half of last season and getting to play full time with Cooper should make them one of the better LB tandems in the league. To flip around a famous movie line, Just went I thought he was back in, he pulls himself out again. I'm referring to Jaire Alexander, of course. After a week where we were told Jaire participated in the virtual zoom practices and a reconciliation with the Packers was possible, we now hear that he hasn't been at the in-person practices this week. Of course, it is "voluntary," but I'm already exhausted by the Jaire news cycle roller coaster. Speaking of which, now there's an "understanding."   I'm told there already is an understanding in place between the #Packers and CB Jaire Alexander to come to an agreement on his roster and contract situation first, prior to an arrival for the team's offseason program, per league source. Alexander is not currently in attendance… pic.twitter.com/52Q5cEnryF — JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) May 2, 2025 The NFL Schedule comes out a week from today and here's what we know so far. Packers will play home games against  the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers. Packers will play road games: against the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals. The Packers are coming to Jersey again! Luckily, with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart now on the Giants' roster, the Packers should be safe from being embarrassed by Tommy Cutlets again. I still can't believe I paid good money to watch that debacle in person. Ugh... Go Pack Go Filed Under: FeaturedNFL DraftJersey Al Bracco   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ "Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther.  Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.  __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersSan Francisco 49ersTags: Green Bay PackersPolluted Mindsetmock draftNFL Draft2025 Like 0 points