The Packers and Patriots reportedly got into a few scuffles during their joint practices this week, and it seems those tensions didn’t fizzle out in the buildup to Saturday’s preseason clash.
Before the game even kicked off on Saturday, a wave of New England and Green Bay players began exchanging words on the field, eventually needing to be separated by officials and coaches.
Groups from the two teams converged along the sideline and got in each other’s faces before referees involved themselves in order to deescalate the situation.
It doesn’t appear as if any punches were thrown, but it’s immediately clear that these two teams aren’t on the friendliest of terms.
Here’s the fight that the #Patriots and #Packers were in before the week 2 preseason game.
— Chase (@Chase6D) August 19, 2023
Looks like Jalen Mills was involved. pic.twitter.com/hvbeMIQA1o
The Packers and Patriots had joint practices together twice during the week. While players were reportedly relatively level-headed during Wednesday’s session, tempers flared on Thursday, culminating in some fights and even practice ejections.
Green Bay linebacker Keshawn Banks and New England linebacker Anfernee Jennings were both ejected after fighting on Thursday, and there were other incidents of players shoving one another throughout the day.
Those frustrations didn’t take long to boil over on Saturday and time will tell if the two teams can make it through the preseason tilt without further incident.
