Packers Training Camp Practice Notebook 8/2: The Offense Returns

With Friday came the first night practice of training camp. It's also the last practice before the Packers' Family Night scrimmage. Accordingly, tomorrow we'll get to see players actually hit each other. Until then, here are the significant moments of Friday's practice:

• Injury update: many of the same players who missed Thursday's practice were absent again Friday: Sederrick Cunningham, Kevin Dorsey, Charles Johnson, DuJuan Harris, Sean Richardson, Casey Hayward, Tramon Williams, David Fulton, Dezman Moses, J.C. Tretter, Derek Sherrod, Jerel Worthy, and Mike Neal (RD). Added to the DNP list were Jordy Nelson, Jamari Lattimore, and Andrew Quarless (PD). However, rookie OLB Nate Palmer returned to practice (TS).
• The Don Barclay center experiment continued Friday. (TS)
• Davon House and Sam Shields worked as the starting corners today (PD). This is a change from earlier in camp where rookie Micah Hyde received starters reps.
• Eddie Lacy took reps with the first team on offense during team drills (TS). This is where I give the obligatory disclaimer that the starting running back has yet to be determined. However, Lacy has been getting extra work with the ones the last few days (TD).
• Loyce Means took advantage of the injuries at corner by picking off a pass from Graham Harrell during 11-on-11 (TS). With all the talent ahead of him, Means is unlikely to make the final roster. However, stringing together good practices like this could earn him a spot on the practice squad.
• While it's still unlikely he tops the depth chart at returner come the regular season, Randall Cobb was first up on punt returns (TS). He was followed by Jeremy Ross, Tyrone Walker, Omarius Myles White, and Johnathan Franklin (PD). Walker had the worst performance of the group, allowing one punt to hit him in the facemask (RD). For what it's worth, Franklin started to show some promise as a replacement for Cobb (TD).
• Lacy and Alex Green had rough performances in the pass block drill (TS). James Starks, who has received glowing reviews throughout camp, was able to block his man (TS). Green later fumbled during team drills. Earning the coaches' trust in pass protection and ball security is the surest way for a running back to make this team. If the regular season started tomorrow, you'd have to think Starks is on the 53.
• This moment happened.
• The offense dominated the two-minute drill, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Jermichael Finley (RD). After two practices which saw the defense takeover, this has to be good news for the coaching staff.
• Brad Jones left with an injury near the end of practice (JW). We should hear more about this during Mike McCarthy's press conference later.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Acme Packing Co. He has previously written for Lombardi Ave, College Hoops Net, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is also currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter: @JBHirschhorn