GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Edgar Bennett, like many coaches, has his favorite phrases.

The Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator’s go-to line usually involves the words “making the most of” and “opportunity.” In three separate sessions with reporters since training camp began three weeks ago, he has gone to it (in one form or another) 14 times.

Which brings us to Jeff Janis, the Packers’ oft-discussed receiver. The almost-hero of last season's playoff loss at Arizona, the third-year receiver was afforded the opportunity of his career this offseason and into training camp. With Jordy Nelson still recovering from last year’s knee injury (and a new one this summer) and Ty Montgomery on the mend from ankle surgery, Janis took all kinds of snaps with the No. 1 offense.

Yet nine practices into training camp and on the eve of the first preseason game Friday against the Cleveland Browns, it’s hard to say Janis has made the most of it. It’s not that Janis has been invisible in training camp, but he also hasn’t exactly taken his seven-catch, 145-yard, two-touchdown game against the Cardinals and run with it.

“It’s still a work in progress,” Bennett said of Janis. “Truth of the matter is right now we have yet to play a preseason game. With that being said, he’s going about doing it the right way in the classroom and on the practice field, which is to improve on a daily basis, to be more fundamentally sound, and I think the overall communication and the relationship he’s building with [quarterback] Aaron [Rodgers], I think it will pay dividends.”

Janis, a fan favorite who finally got his chance to play against the Cardinals last season, was one of the most-talked-about players during the Packers’ offseason program. From Rodgers' brief but meaningful message to Janis on the plane ride home from Arizona to just about everyone else raving about Janis’ potential, big things were expected come training camp.

“Obviously I’ve been trying to take advantage of it with Jordy being out and just trying to be on the same page with Aaron,” Janis said. “With me, I think it’s just going to take reps.

“I feel like I’ve gotten better at route-running. That’s something I’ve been trying to focus on. Now it’s just reading the defense and being where I’m supposed when Aaron wants me to be there.”

With Montgomery and tight end Jared Cook finally back on the field, that might be tougher. And when Nelson is finally cleared, Janis might fall farther down the depth chart.

Then he walked into the locker room Wednesday with his right hand wrapped in a bag of ice, and immediately concern grew. Although Janis said he just jammed a finger during practice, it’s not exactly the way he wanted to go into his first game action since Arizona.

And there’s that depth chart. Although it’s unofficial and still lists Nelson as the starter despite not yet having taken a snap in camp, Janis finds himself in the third column, meaning he’s No. 5 or No. 6 at best. That, however, doesn’t take into account special teams, where coach Ron Zook called him one of the core players.

“I think Jeff is getting better every single day,” receivers coach Luke Getsy said. “I’m excited to see where he continues to grow, and again I think we just need to get into some game reps and let all these guys have that opportunity. But he’s definitely getting better every single day, and he’s worked his tail off for sure.”