Cheese Curds, 8/5: Texans arrive to join Packers for practice this week

As the calendar clicks over to Monday, we are officially in the first preseason week of the 2019 season. But this isn’t a normal week for a preseason game for the Green Bay Packers, as their week one opponents, the Houston Texans, are in town for some joint practices on Monday and Tuesday.

This morning, we finally have some ideas about what to expect from those two practices. It appears that they will move quickly, as the team tries to get some practice film on their starters with an opposing team in lieu of playing the top veterans this weekend. So don’t expect to see any of Aaron Rodgers and company on Thursday in the preseason opener, particularly if the coaching staff likes what they’re seeing in practice.

Keep it here at APC for practice later this morning.

Packers expect more of a 'game tempo' in joint practices with Texans | Packersnews.com
The joint practices begin today, and it appears that Matt LaFleur and Bill O'Brien are planning on more fast-paced drills and sequences than the team has done so far this year.

Getting a handle on Za’Darius Smith no easy task | Packers.com
The biggest signing of the Packers' free agency wave this spring is making big waves in Green Bay already, beating David Bakhtiari in one-on-ones. But he's such a versatile player that it will be difficult for opposing offenses to figure out just how to try to block him.

LaFleur highlights Trevor Davis, Billy Turner as Family Night standouts | Packers Wire
Davis continues to show that he is taking a step forward in year four as he stakes a claim for a roster spot. Meanwhile, Turner has the right guard job on lockdown.

Cole Madison making fans in locker room with return to Packers - ESPN
Madison and Tyler Lancaster have become close, coming in as part of the same rookie class last year, and the defensive linemen weighs in on his buddy. It will be interesting to see if Madison lands a roster spot as an interior backup.

Don Banks death: Longtime NFL reporter and SI writer dies at 56 | SI.com
The NFL writing community lost a great one this weekend. A few of us at APC had interacted with Banks and had nothing but excellent experiences with him. He will be missed.