After Monday's lopsided practice where the defense excelled, Tuesday's session was more even.

"It's been competitive," head coach Robert Saleh said. "The run game has looked really good from an offensive perspective. Overall, once you put our D-line in pads, they're pretty tough to deal with and it's showing its face, especially in critical downs and critical situations. It's been competitive, back and forth.

"Last year in our team competition periods there were blowout wins and this year has been back and forth throughout camp. Excited about the direction it's going, but still have a long way to go in all three phases. Overall, it's been good."

Tuesday's competition period was an end-of-game situation where the offense started on its 30-yard line down by 20-17 with 52 seconds left. Aaron Rodgers led his unit down the field to the defense's 37-yard line with 18 seconds on the clock. That came after chunk gains from Garrett Wilson, which put the group at midfield, and Allen Lazard, who corralled a pass one-handed while taking a lick from S Chuck Clark.

The second-team defense set the tone for its drive on the first play as Javon Kinlaw sacked Tyrod Taylor for a 7-yard loss. After a pair of incompletions – one to Kenny Yeboah, the other to Malachi Corley – undrafted rookie DE Braiden McGregor sacked Taylor on fourth down to end practice.

"When the pads came on, I feel like we came alive," S Tony Adams said of the defense. "It was a back-and-forth battle the first few days without the pads."

Malik Taylor Flashes
With Mike Williams (ACL) on the physically unable to perform list and Xavier Gipson dealing with a leg injury, there's opportunity at wide receiver. Allen Lazard has been off to an impressive start in camp as has his former teammate in Green Bay – Malik Taylor.

"He's got great speed, he's very reliable, he knows all three spots." HC Robert Saleh said about Taylor on Tuesday. "He's a guy that's starting to win his 1-on-1s and starting to put himself in position to create separation. Very pleased with where he's at."

Taylor was targeted frequently in Tuesday's session and came down with a pair of highlight catches – both from Tyrod Taylor. First in 7-on-7, Tyrod Taylor looked for the third-year receiver by the left sideline as he jumped and twisted his body to make the catch while keeping two feet in bounds.

The pair later connected during the move-the-ball period on a deep pass as Tyrod Taylor launched a picturesque spiral over the middle that Malik Taylor brought in with UDFA CB Myles Jones in tight coverage.

"A couple of plays before that, I had an opportunity from Aaron [Rodgers] and I ended up letting it get through me," Malik Taylor said. "So, I had a little bit of a little anger on that play. I knew I had to make that play. I know that I can make those plays, so it was one of those things where I just had to believe in myself and go make a play."

Rodgers to Sit Out First Two Preseason Games
Robert Saleh said Aaron Rodgers would will not play in the first two preseason games and Saleh is he's inclined to sit him for all three.

"He definitely won't play the first two, but the discussion on the third one we haven't quite had yet," Saleh said. He added: "There are certain guys we're going to want to see get some action, but at the same time, those preseason practices are so game-like. The only difference is that you're not tackling. We feel comfortable that we're getting the game-like reps we need in a controlled environment."

Jetcetera
Rookie WR Malachi Corley made a fantastic one-handed grab down the left sideline as he leaped to secure the pass from Aaron Rodgers and kept both feet in bounds. … WR Jason Brownlee caught a long pass from Andrew Peasley down the sideline in 7-on-7. … Allen Lazard brought down a contested ball down the sideline from Rodgers with D.J. Reed in coverage. Reed later broke up a pass intended for Garrett Wilson in the move-the-ball period over the middle … QB Adrian Martinez saw his first action in team drills.

Second-year LB Zaire Barnes broke up a short pass intended for RB Tarik Cohen. … CB Qwan'tez Stiggers broke up a ball intended for UDFA WR Tyler Harrell, who did not finish practice because of an injury, as did DT Jalyn Holmes … DE Takk McKinley did not practice. … Will McDonald and Solomon Thomas split a would-be sack on Rodgers and Quinnen Williams later had a sack on the future Hall of Fame QB.