Training camp at Ray Nitschke Field delivered high drama when third-year safety Mark Perry leveled undrafted wide receiver Will Sheppard over the middle during the first day of pads. Sheppard stayed down for a few moments after getting the wind knocked out of him, missing just one play before returning to the huddle.
Will Sheppard and Tyrod Taylor Ignite the Two-Minute Drill
Facing a desperate third-and-15 from their own 24-yard line in a two-minute drill while trailing 28-26 with no timeouts remaining, the second-team offense needed a spark. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor delivered a precise spiral on a field post route. Sheppard beat Perry downfield for a 61-yard gain, tracking the ball well and making a falling catch before getting up quickly to let Taylor spike the ball with three seconds left. Rookie kicker Trey Smack then converted a 33-yard field goal to win the session.
“Tyrod basically, out the huddle, just said, ‘Ay, make sure you run.’ And that’s exactly what I did. I just ran and got it … It’s what we paid to do. Come out here, get hit, get knocked down, just get back up, next-play mentality. So that’s kinda how I go about my day every day.”
Will Sheppard, wide receiver, via The New York Times
Taylor explained the thought process behind the explosive play, noting that fatigue in a late-period two-minute drill can alter a defense’s mindset. When the cornerback attempted to mirror the route, Taylor trusted Sheppard’s tracking ability to outrun the safety and make the grab.
Benjamin St-Juste and Brandon Cisse Revamp the Cornerback Room
Free-agent addition Benjamin St-Juste and second-round draft pick Brandon Cisse have immediately injected life into that unit.
Standing 6-foot-3, St-Juste brings rare size to the position. He ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash coming out of Minnesota in 2021 and logged a productive stint with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. He punctuated his strong start to camp by intercepting Tyrod Taylor for a pick-six during a Friday session.
“I’m very versatile, with size, I tackle well, I’m able to set the edges, make sure that on my side of the ball, it’s not easy to run the ball there. If we play man, I’m very aggressive with the smaller receivers. That’s where they like me using my length, using my arms to slow down the process.”
Benjamin St-Juste, cornerback, via Forbes
Meanwhile, rookie Brandon Cisse has turned heads despite not turning 21 until July 3. The rising competition has also forced incumbent cornerback Carrington Valentine to elevate his performance, responding with multiple passes defensed in recent practices.
Jordan Morgan Anchors the Offensive Line as Injuries Mount
With Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele sidelined from team drills while rehabilitating knee injuries, the offensive line has required shuffling. Jacob Monk, Jager Burton, and Anthony Belton have seen time filling the gaps at left guard and right tackle. Amid the shifting pieces, Jordan Morgan has stood out during one-on-one padded drills, firmly establishing himself as a starting left tackle.
Health remains a pressing concern across the roster, particularly at tight end. Maryland missed practice with a hamstring issue. To manage the depleted depth, the team added tight ends McCallan Castles and Drew Biber.
Matt LaFleur Addresses Pass-Rusher Intensity and Defensive Pressures
As the team strapped on full pads, head coach Matt LaFleur expressed excitement for his eighth season at the helm but drew a hard line regarding pass-rush discipline during team drills. Edge rushers were cleared to execute bull rushes against offensive linemen, but the coach warned against getting into the quarterback’s personal space.
“They got to be smart, too, If they get a guy on their heels and you’re going into the lap of the quarterback, that’s the one thing that I’ve been probably most disappointed with is how many guys we’ve had in the quarterback’s lap. It doesn’t take a lot. I mean, you see it all the time — guys hitting their hand, throwing their hand on a guy’s helmet and that’s not good for anybody. So that’s definitely stressed this morning.”
Matt LaFleur, head coach, via The New York Times
With star edge rusher Micah Parsons expected to miss at least the first month of the regular season due to a knee injury, defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon faces the task of manufacturing pressure. While players like Lukas Van Ness and defensive lineman Anthony Campbell continue to make plays in practice, the defensive front will lean heavily on creative schemes until the pass rush finds its regular-season footing.
