Rounding Up Green Bay Packers' Offseason Buzz, Post-Minicamps

The first three phases of the Green Bay Packers' offseason have come to a close, with the mandatory minicamp wrapping up June 19 and the rookie orientation camp and OTAs now long behind us. 

Looking forward, the Packers announced last week they will open training camp Thursday, July 30, with the first practice set for 8:20 a.m. CT. 

For now, however, let's break down the latest news to come out of Green Bay since the mandatory minicamp ended, including injury updates, training camp news and players who have stood out through the offseason activities. 

Casey Hayward's Foot Injury Should Be Healed by Start of Training Camp

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

Given his experience, it's hard to imagine anyone could beat out veteran Casey Hayward for the starting outside cornerback spot opposite Sam Shields. 

However, Hayward has already missed some valuable opportunities to prove to the coaching staff that he's a shoo-in for the job: The corner sat out all of OTAs and minicamp with a "minor" foot injury, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. 

According to Wood, Hayward said his foot will be healed by the time training camp begins July 30, and he doesn't feel the missed time has set him back in his quest to earn the starting gig:

"

I don't think it sets me back at all. I know what type of player I am, (the coaches) know what type of player I am. When I'm on the field, I make talented plays. So whenever I'm healthy and on the field, I'm going to be full go, and I'm going to be ready to compete. And not just be the starting corner, but be the No. 1 corner. That's my whole goal, not just being a starting corner. I want to be one of those elite guys and be able to guard the No. 1s.

"

Hayward has the right mindset heading into a training camp where he will compete with first-round rookie Damarious Randall and second-rounder Quinten Rollins, both of whom have been impressing in offseason practices.

The job is essentially Hayward's to lose, but Randall received most of his first-team reps on the perimeter in practices, per Wood. Rollins also alternated between the perimeter and the slot. 

Even if Hayward does start outside opposite Shields, that won't necessarily preclude him from rotating back into the slot occasionally, especially if one of the rookies develops into a solid cover corner. 

"It's not set in stone," Hayward told Wood. "Nobody's role is going to be (set this early in the offseason), but I'm pretty sure they'll still want me to play some inside, the way I've been playing."

Hayward was ranked the No. 1 slot corner in the league in 2014 by Pro Football Focus. The current assumption is that if he starts, Rollins and Micah Hyde will play in the nickel and dime. Randall seems to be a better fit outside. 

Packers Training Camp Schedule Released

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

On June 19, the Packers finally revealed the long-awaited details about this year's training camp schedule, which will commence July 30 with practice open to the public beginning at 8:20 a.m. CT. 

Noting that all practice dates and times are subject to change, the current schedule includes 17 practices open to the public, in addition to the two home preseason games against the Philadelphia Eagles (August 29) and New Orleans Saints (September 3).

Packers Family Night will be held Saturday, August 8 at 6:25 p.m. CT. 

The full dates and times can be found on Packers.com, but some of the important dates are highlighted below:

• Wednesday, July 29: Players report
• Wednesday, July 29: Head coach Mike McCarthy’s season-opening press conference at 10 a.m. CT
• Thursday, July 30: First practice, 8:20 a.m. CT at Ray Nitschke Field
• Saturday, Aug. 8: Family Night, Lambeau Field
• Monday, Aug. 31: Last practice open to public, 11:45 a.m., Ray Nitschke Field

According to Packers.com, 90,000 visitors from all over the United States and as many as 20 foreign countries are expected to attend Packers training camp in 2015.

Mike McCarthy Stresses Importance of Offseason Team-Building

MIKE ROEMER/Associated Press

Other NFC North head coaches may not see the value of canceling a mandatory minicamp practice in favor of an off-site team-building activity, but Packers head coach Mike McCarthy isn't changing the tradition anytime soon. 

Former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz took a jab at the tradition of the Packers participating in a team-wide activity such as bowling or skeet shooting during minicamp back in 2012. "We had no sporting clays today or no amusement parks or water parks. Work day of minicamp," Schwartz said in 2012, per Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin.  

Current Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer took up Schwartz's call last Thursday, appearing to take a shot at the Packers in an interview on KFAN, via Wilde. 

"Everybody keeps coming up to me and saying 'Hey Coach, do you want to have some team-building? Are we going to have a team building day?'" Zimmer said. "I said, 'No, we’re going to work.' I said, 'We’ve got a lot of work to do. We need to get better. We’re not into the team-building thing.'"

McCarthy, however, remains nonplussed.

"Hey, everybody goes about building their program and culturally doing things," McCarthy said in response to Zimmer's comments, per Wilde. "Our program, we’re in Year 10, so we’ve had a chance to do some things that we feel worked, and we’ve done some things that we wouldn’t do again. I think that’s part of growing your culture and growing your program."

Essentially, what McCarthy's response boils down to is if it ain't broke, the Packers aren't going to try to fix it. And with a win-loss record of 108-67 over the last 10 years, Green Bay has the prerogative to cancel a day of practice in favor of team-building activities.

John Crockett Expects to Participate in Training Camp Despite Ankle Injury

Morry Gash/Associated Press

There's a heated competition taking place for the Packers' No. 3 running back spot behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks, and undrafted free agent John Crockett is a legitimate contender for the job. 

However, Crockett saw his progress through the rookie minicamp and OTAs slowed slightly during the Packers minicamp, when he had what he called a "freak accident" that left him with a sprained left ankle, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. 

According to Wood, Crockett said he'll be ready to go for the Packers' first training camp practice July 30 given that the injury is just a sprain and not a break.

Needless to say, Crockett was disappointed in the turn of events after a successful start to the offseason:

"

You want to finish. That's kind of what I like to pride myself on, is finishing. The OTA period, I felt like I came out, I competed really well. I kind of showcased my talent in ways that I could, and just coming to the minicamp, now I get bumped out. You get the first couple plays in there with big No. 12, and then you come down and got to deal with a broken wing.

"

During training camp, Crockett will compete with practice-squad holdover Rajion Neal and fellow UDFA Alonzo Harris for the spot on the 53-man roster.

While it is possible the Packers could choose to keep four halfbacks on the final roster, they may need to use the fourth spot for a second fullback if they keep both veteran John Kuhn and rookie Aaron Ripkowski.

Jeff Janis Leading Push for No. 4 WR Spot

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Watching Jeff Janis both in training camp in 2014 and throughout offseason practices so far in 2015, it's easy to forget the second-year player only got 15 snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Though the hype surrounding Janis is not always backed up by productivity, there's no denying that once again the wide receiver is putting together a compelling offseason. And this time, he's had a year to learn the Packers' playbook and build chemistry and trust with Aaron Rodgers.

In fact, Janis is doing so well that ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky thinks he could lead the push for the No. 4 receiver spot behind Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams.

"Based on offseason snap counts, you'd have to like Jeff Janis' chances," Demovsky wrote June 20 in response to a mailbag question asking who was in the lead for the No. 4 spot.

"The second-year pro took almost all of Jordy Nelson's reps with the starters this offseason while Nelson was still recovering from hip surgery."

Demovsky also cautioned against counting out rookie Ty Montgomery, who attended the minicamp after missing the rookie orientation camp and OTAs due to Stanford's class schedule.

It will come down to whether the Packers use their depth chart to measure depth or frequency of use. While Montgomery could prove to be a more talented receiver than Janis in time, he may be used best in specific packages, such as out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. Janis, on the other hand, has the ability to stretch the field.