GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Seen and heard at the Green Bay Packers' minicamp practice Thursday:
Early vacation: Coach Mike McCarthy gave quarterback Aaron Rodgers and any veteran with six or more years of experience the day off from practice. That meant there was only one full-squad practice during the three-day minicamp. "They were here for meetings and strength and conditioning aspect of it," McCarthy said after practice. "It was two-fold. I felt like we got the work out of that particular group that we needed and to give the young guys as many reps as we possibly could today. That's why we went a bunch of different situations and things like that. Today was really to highlight the younger players."
Tons of interceptions: Without Rodgers running the offense, perhaps it was no surprise that the secondary feasted on backup quarterbacks Scott Tolzien, Matt Blanchard and rookie Brett Hundley. During a red-zone period, safety Jean Fanor picked off Blanchard, defensive back Micah Hyde picked off Hundley and safety Chris Banjo got Tolzien. It all happened within a five-play stretch. It didn't get any better in the two-minute drill. The first one ended on the second play, when center JC Tretter snapped the ball over Blanchard's head and linebacker Andy Mulumba recovered it. In the second, cornerback Demetri Goodson picked off Hundley. In the third, rookie cornerback LaDarius Gunter picked off Blanchard in the end zone.
Near pick: First-round pick Damarious Randall nearly picked off Tolzien during the third-down team period. He stepped in front of rookie tight end Kennard Backman to break up the play. While the ball was in the air, cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said: "That's a pick." Afterward, Whitt was seen praising Randall for being in the right spot.
Hubbard impresses: It's been a big offseason for outside linebacker Adrian Hubbard, a promising undrafted prospect in 2014 who spent all of last year on the practice squad. With Nick Perry (shoulder) and Mike Neal sidelined all offseason because of injuries, Hubbard has taken a big chunk of the starter’s reps. "I think Hubbard has had a heck of a spring," McCarthy said.
Injury report: Undrafted rookie running back John Crockett, who dropped out of practice with a sprained left ankle, sat out but said he expected to be fine for the start of training camp July 30.
Roster move: The Packers signed rookie tight end Harold Spears of New Hampshire shortly before practice and released rookie cornerback Travis Manning.
Camp schedule coming: The full training camp schedule is expected to be announced Friday.