Packers return for second training-camp practice, with defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon spotlighting the secondary

The Green Bay Packers were back on Ray Nitschke Field for their second practice of the 2026 training camp cycle on Thursday, putting in work in front of fans and staff on another cloudless morning. The session, described by the team as part of the early learning and installation phase, is the next step in how the Packers expect to build consistency before full-speed preseason work.

A central theme from the practice was the way defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is using the Packers’ safeties. The team highlighted Gannon’s approach as a major emphasis point, indicating that the safety group is expected to play an active, scheme-driven role rather than simply hold coverage responsibilities. In camp terms, that usually means repeated reps focused on assignments, alignment, and decision-making as coverage structures evolve through the snap.

Because this is only the second practice day, the emphasis remains on foundational execution. Training camp at this stage typically prioritizes installation of calls, spacing within formations, and clean transitions between run fits and pass coverage responsibilities. The Packers’ choice to spotlight safeties suggests they want those transitions to be sharp early, when technique and communication can be coached before the schedule tightens.

The Packers’ approach also reflects the broader reality of early summer football, when coaches can still step in quickly to correct coverage errors, leverage misunderstandings, and missed communication cues. Safeties are often the players who communicate protection and coverage adjustments to the rest of the secondary, so giving that group extra attention at the start can help the entire defensive back end operate more smoothly as camp progresses.

In addition to the defensive emphasis, the day’s structure mattered in a practical way. A second practice represents the early repetition window where small mistakes get magnified and corrected. The Packers’ ability to carry over what they learned from day one into day two is frequently a better indicator of early-camp readiness than any single drill outcome.

What to watch next is whether the Packers’ safety play stays consistent across consecutive sessions, especially in situations that demand fast identification and correct depth or rotation. If Gannon’s safety-focused emphasis leads to more stable coverage communication, it should show up as fewer alignment issues and cleaner post-snap adjustments later in camp.

More broadly, this early attention to the secondary is relevant to how the Packers want to play defense all season. When the safeties are operating within the intended rules, it reduces the strain on the corners and linebackers, and it also helps the defense disguise looks without creating automatic vulnerability. The team’s focus on those responsibilities early is a clear sign of where the Packers are trying to set their standard first.