Packers training camp news: Jordan Love struggles, Bakhtiari schedule, position switch
Packers news: Jonathan Garvin switching positions to start training camp
On the first day of Green Bay Packers training camp, former seventh-round pick Jonathan Garvin lined up at a new spot.
The 2020 draft pick came into the league as an edge and has spent his career to this point at that spot was reportedly moving to putting his hand in the dirt on Wednesday for the start of camp, seemingly forecasting a move to the defensive line, as reported by Ryan Wood of USA Today.
Jonathan Garvin, an outside linebacker the past 3 seasons, working with defensive line during individual drills.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 26, 2023
Even with questions about Rashan Gary’s health, though head coach Matt LaFleur did say in his press conference that he’s “hopeful” that Gary and cornerback Eric Stokes will be back before the end of Packers training camp, Green Bay has nice depth on the edge with Gary, Preston Smith, first-round rookie Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Justin Hollins, and UDFA signing Brenton Cox Jr.
There is much more concern about the depth on the defensive front, though. It remains to be seen if Day 3 rookies Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden are ready to see snaps immediately, which presents plenty of worry about what would happen if Kenny Clark, T.J. Slaton or Devonte Wyatt went down with an injury.
Garvin, who was listed at 6-foot-4 and 257 pounds last year, will certainly need to prove he’s added mass this offseason to make the full transition to the defensive line, could really be playing the math here, as are the Packers coaches. With a crowded group of edge rushers/outside linebackers in the base 3-4 defense, there is a clearer path for Garvin to make the 53-man roster if he can successfully move to having his hand in the dirt.