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The Green Bay Packers had their second set of open OTAs on Wednesday, with a number of members of the local media on hand. Unfortunately, I'm not currently able to make trips up to Green Bay on a regular basis, but next offseason I'll see what I can do if someone wants to offer me a ride from the airport and a couch. Because I'm not currently there, this info comes via Zach Heilprin of WBEV and ESPN Wisconsin, Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, and other staff at the Press-Gazette.
Per the Press-Gazette, the players who did not participate in yesterday's OTAs were Frank Zombo, Charlie Peprah, Jon Hoese, John Kuhn, Charles Woodson, Marshall Newhouse, Mike Daniels, Alex Green, Derek Sherrod and Andrew Quarless. The latter three players are not expected to return for any OTAs or minicamps. Quarless might not even return for preseason, but Sherrod and Green expect to return sometime during training camp, though they might not be ready for the beginning of camp.
Demovsky noted on twitter that Clay Matthews started the day on the field, but did not participate in the first set of team drills, and he was replaced by Erik Walden. In another tweet, he pointed out that outside linebackers Jamari Lattimore and Brad Jones were doing some work at inside linebacker. The pressure might be on D.J. Smith, and it's definitely on Vic So'oto.
Heilprin pointed out a few interesting things on his twitter account as well. With Sherrod and Newhouse out, Herb Taylor was the first guy to get first team reps at left tackle. The above-linked Press-Gazette post noted that Andrew Datko also took some first-team reps. He also passed along the news that C.J. Wilson was taking first team snaps at 3-4 defensive end and that M.D. Jennings was the first team safety alongside Morgan Burnett in the absence of Peprah and Woodson.
All in all, there wasn't a ton of new information to be gained for fans on Wednesday, but the inside linebacker situation is worth keeping an eye on. It'll also be interesting to see if a battle develops between Taylor and Datko for the last roster spot on the offensive line.