The Green Bay Packers returned to outdoor practice at Ray Nitschke Field on Monday, August 10, 2026, for a full-pads session ahead of Thursday’s preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team’s most physical practice of the summer lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes with temperatures in the mid-70s. Wide receiver Savion Williams and cornerback Jaylin Simpson drew significant attention for their performances during the workout.
Wide Receiver Rotation and Emerging Targets
With wide receivers Matthew Golden (toe) and Jayden Reed (ankle) sidelined by injuries for a second consecutive day, the Packers’ coaching staff utilized the practice to evaluate depth players. Second-year receiver Savion Williams continued to build momentum, following a standout performance on Sunday with another productive outing Monday, including two third-down receptions in traffic. Williams demonstrated his ability to move the chains with a quick slant against Keisean Nixon and a downfield hook route in front of Brandon Cisse.
The good thing about Say, that I love about him, is his poise,
said fellow wide receiver Bo Melton, who noted he has grown close to Williams. Knowing Say, when he's going out there and he's joyful, he's great. In training camp, there's days when you're up and down, but Say, … the way he plays the game is really good. He could be a great player. He knows that.
Bo Melton also saw increased activity, recording a notable downfield catch when he outjumped Keisean Nixon. Melton also found himself wide open on the back end of a trick play for an easy reception. You gotta want it,
Melton said regarding his jump ball against Nixon. “I feel like Kei kinda didn’t see me. When the ball’s in the air, you either attack it and go get it or you don’t want it. I want to make plays. Especially if the ball is deep, I feel like that’s my specialty, taking the top off the defense. I gotta make sure I’m coming down with it all the time.”
Quarterback Jordan Love distributed targets throughout the session, with Skyy Moore also featured in the passing rotation.
Jaylin Simpson’s Defensive Impact
Cornerback Jaylin Simpson, who spent the bulk of last season on the Packers’ practice squad, concluded the practice with a high-impact play. Simpson broke on a pass from Kyron Drones to secure an interception at the goal line. It was noted that the play could have been a 99-yard pick-six touchdown return in a game scenario.
Quarterback Competition and Veteran Presence
Tyrod Taylor celebrated his 37th birthday during Monday’s session, which was characterized by an increased emphasis on downfield passing. Taylor connected with Will Shepherd for a 60-yard bomb and floated a pass to Bo Melton for 30 yards on a fade route. Despite the highlight plays, Taylor emphasized that his priority during this phase of training camp is maintaining consistency and efficiency through his reads.
I think any time you get a chance to push the ball down the field, it's a lot of fun,
Taylor said. “But it’s also about finding completions. Obviously, you want to push it down the field, but in training camp, it’s about going through your reads. I believe that you got to address the decision, not always look towards the results. Obviously, fans want to see big plays, but in this training camp phase, it’s about being brilliant at the basics of not necessarily getting bored with taking a three-yard completion or four-yard completion. It’s about consistently being able to go through the reads and get the ball to the right person, and taking advantage of those down the field throws when there’s opportunity to push them and stuff.”
Taylor, who has a 30-31-1 record as a starter over a 16-year career, noted that the team is gaining knowledge and comfort. I’m just going out there and playing ball,
Taylor said. “Obviously, training camp and OTAs, those are times where you continue to gain as much knowledge, get more comfortable. Day in and day out, coaches are putting us in situations that require us to not only think fast but be efficient. Those are the challenges each and every day is to go out and execute at a high level.”
The battle for the quarterback depth chart includes Kyron Drones, an undrafted rookie free agent signed in May out of Virginia Tech. Drones started 34 games in his three years at Virginia Tech after beginning his college career at Baylor. In 2025, Drones completed 56.5% of his passes for 1,919 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. The team is evaluating his performance in real-game action ahead of the preseason.
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