GREEN BAY, Wis. — Some fans undoubtedly had flashbacks when Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur announced on Tuesday that he planned to start quarterback Jordan Love on Friday night in Denver.It was in Denver last year that the Packers’ season fell apart. They entered that game with a 9-3-1 record, sitting atop the NFC North and with the conference’s No. 2 seed.They left Denver that day having lost their best offensive lineman, Zach Bako-Bewele, for the rest of the season to a partially torn patellar tendon. Wide receiver Christian Watson spent part of that afternoon in the hospital getting checked for dislocated ribs after falling awkwardly on a deep ball that cornerback Patrick Surtain II intercepted with the Packers leading by nine in the third quarter. Not only did that lead evaporate and the Packers lose two key offensive players for the remainder of the game, but their best player, edge Micah Parsons, tore his ACL and is still about two months out from playing in a game.Quarterback Tiers definedMike Sando and Lauren Morales-JonesThe Packers didn’t win again, losing five in a row to end their season. Those inside 1265 Lombardi Ave. can only hope they avoid a similar house of horrors in their second preseason game.We know Love and other healthy prominent players will see time, but here are five other players to keep an eye on Friday night based on what we’ve seen throughout training camp.Brenton Cox Jr., edgeI had Cox on my list of players to watch entering the Packers’ Family Night practice two weeks ago, and he continues making plays. During Wednesday’s shorter, toned-down practice that was closed to the public, Cox cleanly beat right tackle Dalton Cooper to pressure quarterback Kyle McCord and, not long after, stuffed running back MarShawn Lloyd on a toss left by beating him to the perimeter. Cox then blew by right tackle Anthony Belton with the twos to get in quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s face. There might be more flashy names fans are relying on to step up in Micah Parsons’ absence, behind Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Collin Oliver among them, but don’t forget that Cox has been here longer than them and had a productive four sacks in seven games two years ago before missing most of last season with a groin injury.“I know when I’m attacking, I’m hard to stop,” Cox said. “Nobody wants their face peeled off every play like that, so when I’m attacking, it’s either I’m going to peel your face off, or you might get me, but I’m coming back to you.”Kamal Hadden, CBHadden said Wednesday that he isn’t sure if he’ll play Friday in Denver — he didn’t play last Thursday against the Steelers — but it would be a promising step for the 25-year-old cornerback if he did. Hadden returned to practice on Aug. 2 from the PUP list after breaking his tibia and fibula and dislocating his ankle in Week 17 last season. On Wednesday, he repped with the No. 1 defense in the slot (he was formerly an outside corner) with defensive back Javon Bullard sidelined with a foot injury, a testament to what coaches think of him as a depth piece, even if he may not be game-ready just yet. Hadden picked off McCord on Wednesday after McCord threw a play-action bootleg into traffic and celebrated accordingly with teammates all the way down the field.“I’m definitely going to play before the end of camp, definitely going to play, but whatever I can do, I’m pushing for it,” Hadden said. “I’m ready to be back out there. I’m ready to prove to myself, but also want to prove to my brothers and teammates and to this organization that I’m still me, and I’m back, and I’m better. It’d mean a lot to get back out there and perform.”Kamal Hadden returned to practice this month as he works back from his Week 17 injury last season. (Tork Mason / Imagn Images)Jonathan Ford, DTFord threw running back Jaden Nixon to the ground so aggressively during Tuesday’s practice that left tackle Jordan Morgan got in his face and shoved him. Granted, it’s not that remarkable a feat since Ford is listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 338 pounds, while Nixon is listed at 5-10 and 199 pounds, but it was another notable play in what has been an impressive camp for Ford. The mammoth defensive tackle was a Packers seventh-round pick in 2022 and spent his first three years in Green Bay before signing with the Chicago Bears off the Packers’ practice squad in December 2024. The Packers then claimed him off waivers from the Bears last December, and he’s now seeing snaps with the first-team defense.“I see a guy that’s really matured as not only a football player but as a person,” LaFleur said. “He is a load inside, and he’s done a really nice job playing the nose position and defeating blocks. He’s been pretty impactful throughout camp.”Jager Burton, OLThe rookie fifth-round pick from Kentucky still appears to be competing for a starting spot. Though veteran left guard Aaron Banks’ return to 11-on-11 work has moved Burton to a backup role, he still got reps with the first string at right guard on Wednesday despite working at left guard with the second string. With Belton’s regression and weaknesses in pass protection relegating him to the backup right tackle, the starting right guard spot seems to be a competition between Jacob Monk (currently leading) and Burton. Burton may see time at both guard positions on Friday night, given the Packers’ preference for their reserve interior offensive linemen to play at least three spots.“I’m not going to sit and lie. That’s everyone’s goal here,” Burton said of his desire to start. “You want to be on the field. It’s a different thing being on the field versus not. But at the end of the day, I’m going to do whatever helps win the Packers football games, so whatever role that is, I’m excited for it.”J. Michael Sturdivant, WRIt seems like Sturdivant makes an impressive catch every day. Not just a routine one, but a grab that makes you wonder how hard it’ll be for the Packers to keep him off the 53-man roster. On Wednesday, he hauled in a bomb from McCord on a deep corner route over safety Tra Fluellen for the most impressive connection of the day.“He’s been doing that all camp,” McCord said. “Creating separation.”The Packers have had an undrafted rookie on their Week 1 roster for 21 straight seasons. If anyone continues that streak this year, it’ll probably be Sturdivant, though his inclusion might require the Packers to keep seven receivers instead of six. Another strong showing in Denver for the 6-foot-3, 207-pound receiver could make their decision that much more difficult.