Packers Training Camp Practice Notebook 8/25: Ramirez Impresses Early

On Sunday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers took the field for the first practice of the last week of training camp. They did so after releasing six players and signing one more, bringing the roster to a total of 85. More cuts will likely be announced on Monday and Tuesday as the deadline to cut to 75 approaches on Tuesday afternoon.

The big story in practice, however, was the arrival of a third kicker, Zach Ramirez, and his first crack at the Packers' established competition between Mason Crosby and Giorgio Tavecchio. Let's just say that Ramirez is right in the thick of things already.

• A few injured Packers returned to practice - namely wide receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson and tight end Matthew Mulligan (JW).
• The full list of players who sat out practice: Jarrett Bush, James Nixon, DuJuan Harris, Sean Richardson, Casey Hayward, Tramon Williams, Morgan Burnett, Jarvis Reed, Brad Jones, JC Tretter, Bryan Bulaga, Derek Sherrod, and Jerel Worthy (JW).
• Brad Jones, however, was at least working in the walkthroughs with the inside linebackers despite not practicing in drills (JW).
• Charles Johnson and Kevin Dorsey took a lot of repetitions in practice, as they need to get up to speed after their injuries kept them out much of training camp (TS).
• Jake Stoneburner followed up his fumble in Friday's game by dropping two passes at the jugs machine (TD). That's not a good start to earning the coaches' trust back.
• Johnathan Franklin and Micah Hyde were back deep receiving punts during a drill for the coverage team; however, Franklin dropped his first punt (PD). If the season opened today, it seems obvious that it would be either Hyde or Jeremy Ross returning.
• With the wind at their backs, all three kickers took a lot of field goal attempts on Sunday, with increasing distance each time. All three were good from 35 and 41 yards, but Ramirez and Tavecchio both missed their 45-yard attempts. They then all hit from 48 and 50 before starting over at 34, 39, 47. Crosby then missed a 53-yarder, all three hit from 60, and only Tavecchio missed from 63 yards.
• So if you're counting, Crosby hit 10 of 11 kicks, missing from 53; Tavecchio hit 9 of 11, missing from 45 and 63; and Ramirez hit 10 of 11 also, only missing a 45-yard attempt.

There you have it - in one practice, Ramirez has worked his way right into the thick of the kicking competition. Hopefully Monday's practice will give us more of the same from the young kicker.

More from Acme Packing Company:

• Packers vs. Seahawks Performance Grades: Defensive Line pushes back
• Packers Roster Cuts: Tracking the Players Released in Training Camp
• Seahawks vs. Packers Winners and Losers
• Report: Packers Release Backup Quarterback Graham Harrell
• Lambeau Stood Loud and Proud as it Welcomed in the Seahawks