GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers have a joint practice Thursday in Green Bay with the Ravens and then play Baltimore in a preseason game at Lambeau Field Saturday afternoon. 

After looking at the tape of Sunday night’s 27-2 loss in Denver, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was not quite as critical of his team’s effort.

“Our guys were playing hard,” said LaFleur. “They were straining. We just we had a bunch of mental mistakes and we didn’t execute all the time.”

As far as who will play in the last preseason game against the Ravens Saturday at Lambeau Field, LaFleur said he is still deciding that.

“I really can’t answer right now,” said LaFleur. “I think every situation’s a little bit different, every year, a little bit different. To me, there’s a lot of gut feeling in regards to where you’re at. What are the benefits of going out there.”

If you’re looking for a Packers defensive player to make a big jump this year, it could be lineman Devonte Wyatt.

He’s about to enter his third season. He said he’s excited about the new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and his approach.

“It definitely helps us as a team, as a defense,” said Wyatt. “It definitely helps us as a D-line to just go, just less thinking. You know how close we get every year and we just need to finish it. That’s everybody’s mentality, just finish this year.”

Cornerback Carrington Valentine returned last week from a hamstring injury. As impressive as his rookie year was, Valentine said he wants to move forward.

“Honestly, I kind of left the past in the past,” said Valentine. “I’m right now focused on carving something new. Everyone talks about last year. I learned from it, built off of it. I left it in the past. I took some things with me. and now I’m really focused on building the now and the future too.”

Valentine’s missed practice time may have opened the door for Eric Stokes to start at cornerback with Jaire Alexander.