Matt LaFleur says Packers will have first practice of 2020 season on August 15

The Packers will conduct their first practice of the season on Saturday, August 15. At least, that’s what head coach Matt LaFleur hopes for. And based on his conference call with reporters Thursday afternoon, he’s planning to have all hands on deck when the 2020 Packers hit the field for the first time.

Though the NFL’s deadline for players to opt out of the season is Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m., Eastern Time, LaFleur said he hasn’t heard of anyone planning to do so.

“And I hope that stays that way,” he added.

In addition to Packers players weighing the decision to opt out, LaFleur says he sat down with each of his coaches to get a feel for where they stood on the season. To a man, each of them said they were all-in on the year.

“I don’t think any of them had any reservations,” LaFleur said, citing the typical coach’s drive to work with his players as much as possible as the main reason the Packers’ coaching staff collectively chose to play out the season together.

As to the actual business of football, the Packers’ 2020 training camp will obviously look a little bit different this year. With no preseason games, LaFleur said the Packers will try to implement as many game-like situations as they can in hopes of maintaining a competitive camp.

In addition, the Packers will carry only three quarterbacks for the duration of camp, despite going with four last season. LaFleur said that’s because it’s a challenge even in a typical year to get players enough reps with four quarterbacks on the roster, also hinting the Packers will likely keep three quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster.

“We want to focus on the three we think we’re going to have on the roster,” he said.