Packers Training Camp Practice Notebook, July 28: Jones Impresses in Pads

On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers took the field in full pads for the first time since the Divisional Playoff game in January against the San Francisco 49ers. A few young players really impressed during practice in pads today, especially rookie Datone Jones. On to the main event!

• Missing practice were the seven players on the PUP list plus a trio of rookie wideouts: Charles Johnson, Kevin Dorsey, and Sederrik Cunningham (PD). Jamari Lattimore returned after missing earlier practices (WH) but was banged up once again midway through Sunday's action (RD).
• For a second straight day, Jerron McMillian got the top set of reps at safety ahead of M.D. Jennings (WH).
• Myles White again struggled holding on to the ball, as he got stripped during the team's ball security drills. The same thing happened to tight end Jake Stoneburner (RD).
• Rookie ILB Sam Barrington took a special-teams drill a little too seriously and hammered kick returner Jeremy Ross before getting an earful from Mike McCarthy (TD).
• Datone Jones really showed up today when the pads went on. He had big stuffs on Eddie Lacy (TD), Jonathan Amosa (TS), and collapsed the pocket by using a swim move on Andrew Datko (WH).
• Lacy and Franklin had different days today. Shortly after Franklin showed good agility in bouncing an inside run out to the sideline, Lacy was taken down by an easy arm tackle by Jordan Miller (TS).
• James Starks was another player who looked good on Sunday. He had one really nice play on a reception out of the backfield (TS),
• For the first time, the Packers rolled out a dime package in practice. Not surprisingly, Brad Jones was the lone inside linebacker (TS). Datone Jones remained in with B.J. Raji in the nickel package (RD).
• Mike Daniels looked good in one-on-one pass rushing drills, beating Lane Taylor and Evan Dietrich-Smith (RD).
• One interesting wrinkle was that the Packers tried Tim Masthay at kickoffs. Many media members speculated that he could be used there if Giorgio Tavecchio won the place-kicking job.
• James Nixon had a mixed day, dropping a kickoff early but intercepting Aaron Rodgers in team drills (MV).

A few tweets from practice deserve special mention:

It's clear Jolly still knows how to play the position. It's just a matter of seeing if his body still has life in it.

— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 28, 2013

Bakhtiari with a nice job on Matthews. #Packers https://t.co/zsnR4Nn8Mz

— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) July 28, 2013

All in all, it appears that Datone Jones was the star of practice, and that James Starks looked good as well. Starks certainly needs to stay on the field, but based purely on talent he's got as good a shot as any back to start week one. We'll have more on that a little later on today.

More from Acme Packing Company:

• News and Notes from Mike McCarthy’s Saturday Presser
• Packers Training Camp Practice Notebook, July 27: Franklin Works on Punt Returns
• Aaron Rodgers Addresses Ryan Braun Situation
• Packers Injury Update: Mike Neal, DuJuan Harris, Others Placed on PUP List
• Packers Training Camp Practice Notebook, July 26: Micah Hyde Impresses Early