Packers training camp recap: Trey Smack starts shaky in live kicking through first two days

The Green Bay Packers’ first stretch of padded work is already offering its clearest early lesson of training camp: details matter. Over the last two days, the team progressed through practice segments that included full pads for the first time, and the sessions came with the kind of emphasis coaches use to set a tone for how competitive, but controlled, practice can be.

In the special teams portion, rookie Trey Smack is getting a close look after starting his camp with uneven results. Through two days, Smack went 8 of 13 in training camp kicking during live situations, according to the recap. Live reps are often where consistency is most difficult to measure because the timing is different, the protection looks different, and the kickers have to operate under heightened pressure.

The pacing of the first week also matters for how teams evaluate. The recap notes that Sunday featured a more limited approach in shells, and Monday marked the shift to leg pads. That step-by-step progression is commonly used to let players adjust to contact rules and speed changes before the volume and intensity increase further.

On the sideline, the tone LaFleur wants to establish was also a subplot. The recap states that the Packers worked through “rules of engagement” on Sunday and that LaFleur appeared displeased about pass-rushers swiping at his quarterbacks during a period of practice. Even when no specific discipline is announced, these moments typically report that the coaching staff is drawing a boundary between legitimate pass-rush technique and avoidable roughness.

That matters because quarterbacks are the center of the Packers’ daily evaluation, even in early camp. When pass-rushers chase outcomes without controlling hands and angles, practices can become inefficient for quarterbacks and receivers, and it can force teams to slow down install work or change how scout looks are run. LaFleur’s reaction, as described in the recap, suggests the organization wants competitive edges while keeping sessions usable for the offense.

Smack’s early numbers and LaFleur’s remarks also point to a broader theme for Green Bay right now: special teams and clean practice execution are the best foundation for what comes later. Kickers do not have the luxury of “getting comfortable” without consequences, because their opportunities are limited and are often judged in tight windows. Likewise, if practice becomes chaotic or overly physical, the team loses reps it cannot fully replace.

For what to watch next, the Packers will likely continue moving further into full-contact readiness as camp progresses. Smack’s 8-for-13 start is a benchmark for early accuracy, but training camp kickers are usually measured over longer stretches that include varying temperatures, different holders, and more reps in game-like cadence. In the meantime, how the pass-rush groups respond to the stated rules of engagement may shape the pace of the quarterback-driven periods that follow.

It is also worth noting the limitations of early camp snapshots. A two-day sample, even one that includes live kicking, can swing quickly based on conditions, weather, and how the team structures practice. Still, the combination of Smack’s live-kicking struggles and LaFleur’s emphasis on technique provides a clear early storyline for Green Bay: get the special teams work right, and keep practice competitive without letting it spill over.