GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers open their preseason Saturday afternoon in Cleveland against the Browns.
Here are three things to watch in that game.
Fresh look on defense
The first thing many Packers fans will be looking for in the preseason is defensive improvement.
Keep in mind that new Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will not be showing all of his cards in the preseason. At the very least, we should be able to see how the Packers are adjusting to a 4-3 defense. The guys we used to think of as outside linebackers, like Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, are now edge rushers.
The kicking game
Will Anders Carlson keep the Packers’ kicking job? He’ll be watched closely in the preseason games beginning Saturday in Cleveland.
Former Minnesota Vikings kicker Greg Joseph was joined this week in camp by former Oklahoma State kicker Alex Hale to provide competition. That can change as other teams make their kicking decisions and tweak their rosters.
Backup quarterback
Without a doubt, Jordan Love is the Packers’ number one quarterback. Yet the number two job is in question. Both the returning backup Sean Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt, a 7th round draft pick out of Tulane, should see plenty of action in the three preseason games. How they fare will be factored in heavily. Clifford has thrown some interceptions in camp, but has the experience edge on Pratt, who could end up on the practice squad.
After the game in Cleveland, the Packers go to Denver next week for a joint practice with the Broncos and a preseason game a week from Sunday night.