Photos: Green Bay Packers kick off preseason with win over Houston Texans

With 16 preferred starters sitting, Green Bay's 28-26 win over Houston was in no way, shape or form an accurate depiction of what the team could look like when the season starts.

The Packers quarterback had to like what he saw from the undrafted rookie free agent — especially Shepherd’s terrific 14-yard touchdown catch late in the first half.

Only time will tell whether LaFleur squandered an opportunity to give the first-team offense a few series to work together in a live setting as it works to master his offense.

Every summer the NFL plays the same prank on its fans. It's called preseason football, and thousands fall for the ruse each year.

Veteran Lane Taylor is competing with rookie second-round pick Elgton Jenkins for the starting job at left guard for Green Bay.

Head coach Matt LaFleur struck a balance between acknowledging quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ issues with the joint practices while also making it clear he found a lot of value in them.

Aaron Jones understands that coach Matt LaFleur’s passing game is reliant on a successful running game setting up play-action passes and keeping defenses guessing with a more balanced run/pass ratio than the Packers have shown in recent years, so he knows his role will be vital.

The season may be over for the second-year pro, who was expected to be a starter this year after his injury in Thursday's preseason opener.

“I really just want to live up to what’s within myself and be better than what I have been,” said Moore, who caught just two passes in his rookie season last year.

Bolton has gotten work with the No. 1 base defense the past two days after starter Burks sustained a chest injury during Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Texans.

Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine calls the third-year defensive lineman the "most improved" player from a year ago.

Matt LaFleur likes to use “21” personnel — two running backs, one tight end, two receivers — and change personnel groupings extensively, so not having a fullback is problematic.

Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offensive and defensive starters are slated to play “a quarter or so” Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Matt LaFleur said.

As DeShone Kizer he enters his third NFL season, his circumstances so far have sorely lacked consistency — and so has his play.

For now, Matt LaFleur is focused on having quarterback Aaron Rodger back on the field when the players return to practice Sunday.

After missing 24 tackles by his count in the team’s preseason opener, Matt LaFleur says the Packers missed 19 more against the Ravens.

Lazard has caught four passes for a team-high 90 yards and one touchdown in the first two preseason games, while Shepherd has four catches for 25 yards and a team-best two TDs.

Moore wrote “Nothing But God That I’m Still Here” as the caption to the video. There also were two photos of the damage to his vehicle and a first responder directing traffic at the scene.

“You’d like to get him some game action, but, again, he’s a veteran guy who’s played a lot of football,” coach Matt LaFleur said after Rodgers was held out of Sunday’s practice.

DeShone Kizer and the No. 1 offense sputtered, and the second and third units, led by Tim Boyle and Manny Wilkins, didn’t fare much better.

Check out photo galleries from every game of 2019, from the preseason through the end of the regular season and the playoffs — if the Packers …

Coach Matt LaFleur won't commit to playing Aaron Rodgers in the third preseason game, saying the quarterback has already "gotten a lot of good work."

He says Aaron Rodgers' top backup is on the current roster, and Rodgers believes DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle have been better than they’ve looked because of the moving parts around them.

The Packers think Gary, their top draft choice this year, can be an impact player on the defense.

Seventh-year left guard Lane Taylor is being pushed by rookie Elgton Jenkins.

Mason Crosby, 34, is competing with Sam Ficken to keep the job he's had as Green Bay kicker since 2007.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur planned to play Aaron Rodgers Thursday, until he saw that Raiders coach Jon Gruden wasn’t playing any of his first-line guys and the turf at IG Field.

Trevor Davis' five-reception performance against the Raiders on Thursday night was exactly what Green Bay coaches were looking for.

The safety is waived with a non-football illness designation — reportedly hyperthyroidism.