GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Mike Neal gave the Green Bay Packers a glimpse of the disruptive player he can be before his rookie season ended with a shoulder injury.
Healthy and motivated, Neal is battling to replace Cullen Jenkins, who left the team in free agency, as a playmaker on the defensive line.
The team’s 2010 second-round draft pick says the disappointment he felt last season on the sidelines during the Packers’ run to the Super Bowl title has him feeling like a rookie all over again.
The Packers cleared Neal to participate in team drills Thursday night for the first time in training camp. But coaches won’t know his potential impact until they see him play at full strength on a consistent basis.