3 Winners from Green Bay Packers Family Night Practice
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers wrapped up their 21st annual Family Night practice, which was held in front of 50,000-plus fans at Lambeau Field.
This was the Packers’ ninth training camp practice of the 2021season, and just like the eight practices before this one, there were a few players who stood out above the rest.
Now, of course, these weren’t the only strong performances, but in terms of trying to earn a roster spot or playing time, this practice meant a little bit more to these three members of the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers TE Dominique Dafney
Dominique Dafney has been lost in the shuffle a bit at the tight end position this summer, and he very well may be on the outside looking in at a roster spot. Once Robert Tonyan is healthy, he will, of course, be on the roster, as will Marcedes Lewis and Josiah Deguara, and I think it is safe to say Tyler Davis as well.
Dafney has had a quiet start to training camp, but he saw some action with the first team offense on Friday night and was able to come away with a few receptions. I’m not sure Dafney can jump Davis on the depth chart, but what he can do is force the Packers to keep a fifth tight end.
It’s a relatively small sample size, but Dafney was one of PFF’s best blocking tight ends last season, and he provides this offense with a secondary option in that H-back role, in addition to Deguara. But it is special teams where Dafney will have to shine if he hopes to make the team–something he can very much do under Rich Bisaccia with his skill-set.
When it comes to earning a roster spot via special teams, no longer are players only competing against their own position group, but rather the entire team. As Bisaccia says, it’s called we-fense. So in Dafney’s case, he may be the fifth tight end, but from a special teams standpoint, if he can be a key contributor, then it doesn’t much matter what position he plays.
If Tonyan remains on the PUP list to begin the season, then Dafney is the defacto fourth tight end, but he will have to continue to show Matt LaFleur and Bisaccia why the team should keep a fifth–which is something they haven’t done during LaFleur’s tenure.