National Football League

Not mandatory this year: 15 Packers vets excused from camp

Published Jun. 14, 2016 7:06 p.m. ET

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Minicamp isn't mandatory for about 15 Green Bay Packers veterans.

Coach Mike McCarthy is excusing a select group of players for minicamp, which started Tuesday.

McCarthy didn't announce names of the excused players, though receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, along with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, appear to be on that list.

McCarthy says this will be an important minicamp for second-year quarterback Brett Hundley, who will back up Rodgers this season, as well as other younger players.

The veterans were excused after going through physicals on Monday, meaning they got a head start on their break before training camp starts in late July.

Training camp will start a little earlier than usual this year because the Packers will play an extra preseason game, the Hall of Fame Game against the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 7.

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