As the Green Bay Packers continue offseason training activities, a handful of established veterans have chosen not to attend. Tuesday’s workout was open to beat writers, who compiled a list of those absent. The missing included Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard, Marcedes Lewis, Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Jonathan Garvin and Randy Ramsey.
These OTAs are voluntary and thus, it is understandable that a veteran who is assured of his starting slot come training camp, such as Rodgers, Lazard, Gary and Smith, might elect to wait until the mandatory mini camp to report later this month. But any player, veteran or rookie, who figures to have to fight for a spot on the roster, especially if it’s your first year in Green Bay, would be well advised to stay in town, get on the field as often as possible, and start trying to execute the system, impress the coaches and get the lay of the land.