Training Camp Report: Wynn Returns To Practice

Johnny Newman · Post #1 » by **Johnny Newman** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:53 pm

Rookie running back DeShawn Wynn returned to practice for the first time in three weeks on Sunday, and the seventh-round draft pick now has one preseason game to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster.

When he's been on the field, Wynn has shown the type of power and explosion the Packers were hoping they were getting from the national champion Florida Gators. But the problem is Wynn hasn't been on the field enough.

He missed most of the spring workouts with a calf injury, then was in and out of practice when training camp began with a stomach virus. His latest injury, a rather significant quadriceps strain, forced him to miss the first three preseason games and, along with Vernand Morency's knee injury, had left the Packers thin at running back.

"It definitely felt good to be out there," Wynn said. "One thing I was really trying to focus on today was getting my wind back and my legs under me. From a football conditioning standpoint, I did a lot of running inside, but it's a different type of conditioning when you're actually out on the field."

Wynn showed a little rust, dropping one pass in the flat, and he said his legs felt a little heavy, though his wind was good. He said he was actually cleared to return to practice just before the Jacksonville game on Thursday, but he was held out because he wouldn't be playing in the game anyway.

He's spent the past couple of days doing a lot of running, knowing he'd be getting a hefty workload with only a few days for the coaching staff to evaluate him.

"He had a full load, so I'm really curious to watch the film," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "It was good to see him back out there. This is a big week for him."

Wynn said he was five to six pounds lighter than when he was last practicing three weeks ago. That was a conscious effort on his part to monitor his conditioning.

"I definitely didn't want to be heavy coming back, eating too much, (because) I would have really looked sluggish," he said.

That's a look Wynn can't afford to have in Thursday's game against Tennessee, to be sure. Whether or not he can show enough in one preseason game to make the team, even he's not sure.

"All I can pretty much do now is get these practices in and get the reps in on Thursday, and it's their call from there," Wynn said.

Favre to play some
McCarthy said quarterback Brett Favre likely would play a series or two on Thursday in Tennessee, mainly because there are so many young players on offense Favre hasn't worked with much in games.

Normally the starters play very little in the preseason finale, and that will probably hold true, though McCarthy said the offensive starters will play a little longer than the defensive starters. There are more jobs open on the defensive side, so more players need to be rotated through for one final look.

"You still want to be smart and cautious," McCarthy said.

Thompson playing for a job
No. 3 quarterback Paul Thompson will enter Thursday's game probably sometime in the third quarter and finish it out, hoping to lock up a job. But McCarthy echoed General Manager Ted Thompson in saying keeping only two quarterbacks was a possibility, or bringing back Ingle Martin, who was released on Friday, could happen as well.

"We feel that we have a pretty good grasp on where Ingle is in his development," McCarthy said. "I do not have those answers for Paul Thompson. That's why, in my view, why we're giving Paul this opportunity."

http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2007/08/26/2/

I hope Wynn is a bad ass and runs all over last game to get a spot.

Thunder Muscle · Post #2 » by **Thunder Muscle** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:37 am

I'm curious to see Wynn in action. Hope he performs well.

Post #3 » by **MickeyDavis** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:18 am

I'm looking forward to seeing him play but it will be with the second/third string line.

Mags FTW · Post #4 » by **Mags FTW** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:20 am

I dunno. Jason Wilde labeled him a "knucklehead" and he is usually right about these things.

smacks1 · Post #5 » by **smacks1** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 4:11 am

I don't care if we have a knucklehead on the team, as long as he can run the ball. An NFL player can kill a person and still have a job (leonard little). Just make sure Wynn is not into dog fighting and we should be Ok.

deep throat · Post #6 » by **deep throat** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:20 am

MickeyDavis wrote:I'm looking forward to seeing him play but it will be with the second/third string line.

It's not like the 1st string line is opening up holes. Keep in mind that the 2nd/3rd string O-line goes against the 2nd/3rd string D-line. It's actually a better situation.

Too late, should have showed up in better shape. Not a surprise the guy is a bum.

Post #7 » by **ReasonablySober** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:08 pm

deep throat wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Too late, should have showed up in better shape. Not a surprise the guy is a bum.

Randy Moss.

I'm just sayin'...

deep throat · Post #8 » by **deep throat** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:57 pm

DrugBust wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Randy Moss.

I'm just sayin'...

Funny you mentioned that, because when I put that down I thought someone (probably DB) is going to jump on that and mention Randy Moss.

I would say this-Moss came into Vikings camp in great shape and with a chip on his shoulder for dropping all the way down to the Vikes. This guy dropped all the way down to round 7, and comes in out of shape. That's why Moss may be a punk, but why I call Wynn a bum.