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Packers coach Mike McCarthy wouldn't declare Justin McCray the winner of the training camp competition at right guard Tedric Thompson Jersey , but he got pretty close.

What was supposed to be one of the bigger competitions of training camp never materialized.

While McCray's would-be challenger, Lucas Patrick, has spent a big chunk of camp at left guard as starter Lane Taylor has dealt with ankle and quad issues, McCray has taken every first-team rep.

"I hope so," McCarthy said Tuesday when asked if McCray was the starter. "You want to keep the competition open but, yeah, I think he's done a heck of a job at this point."

McCray wasn't taking anything for granted.

"I'm not trying to call it out right now," McCray said. "I think it's still a competition. I still need to keep working hard, still need to keep getting better every day, but I realize I'm not getting taken out (of the lineup) a lot. I definitely have realized that."

At this time last year, McCray was making an unlikely run toward a roster spot. An undrafted free agent out of Central Florida in 2014, McCray spent his rookie season on Tennessee's practice squad. He failed to make the Titans' roster in 2015 and spent the year out of football.

In 2017 Amara Darboh Jersey , he worked out at Central Florida's pro day, where he caught the eye of the Packers, who signed him to a one-year contract. In between, he played for the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators and worked as a hotel bellman.

McCray spent training camp last year playing guard and center. He played a utility role last year with injuries up and down Green Bay's line, starting five games at right tackle, two at left guard and one at right guard.

The starting job at right guard came open after the Packers didn't retain Jahri Evans in free agency.

"You've got to love the guy," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "He's very detailed. He's a tough guy. He just finds a way to be productive. It may not be textbook all the time. It may not always be a clinic tape and the prettiest thing you've ever seen but, often times, he's blocking his guy."

McCray said winning the starting job won't change his mentality.

"I think I came in with the same mindset as last year," he said. "I'm trying to make a team, trying to earn a spot, and just working hard to get better. I know if I keep getting better every day Cordrea Tankersley Jersey , those are my best chances of doing that."

Notes: McCarthy confirmed that QB Aaron Rodgers will start on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. How much he'll play will depend in part on the availability of left tackle David Bakhtiari, who has returned from an ankle injury that held him out for more than a week. "At the forefront of your decision is being smart with Aaron, but the combination of who he plays with, too, is part of that," McCarthy said. ... McCarthy said he also hopes to play QBs Brett Hundley, DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle. ... Starting outside linebacker Nick Perry remains on the physically unable to perform list following offseason ankle surgery, but has been working extensively with a trainer during practices. "I feel great," he said. "No setbacks is the main thing. Right now, we're being smart about it."

John Paxson insisted the Chicago Bulls are in a good position. And the Bulls’ top executive hopes they are never in this spot again.

”We did this year what we felt was in the long-term best interests of the Bulls,” Paxson said Thursday. ”It’s not a situation that any of us want to ever be in again. It goes against everything as a competitive person that you believe in, but it’s the way the system is set up. To be very honest Kurt Coleman Jersey , we believe we’ve done it the right way.”

The Bulls went 27-55, their worst record since the 2003-04 season, and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. But they are staying the course after going all-in on rebuilding.

Paxson, Chicago’s executive vice president of basketball operations, praised coach Fred Hoiberg and said he will ”absolutely” return for a fourth season. He said most of the roster will be back ”because we’re headed in the right direction” and called this ”as important a summer as we’ve had in a very long time.”

Here are some things to know heading into the offseason:

PIECES IN PLACE

The Bulls believe they set themselves up for long-term success when they traded Jimmy Butler to Minnesota for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen on draft night last year. All three players they landed showed promise, with Markkanen emerging as one of the league’s top rookies. Throw in a lottery pick as well as another first-rounder this year and the Bulls believe they are positioning themselves to make a jump in the Eastern Conference.

LOCKING IN LAVINE

The Bulls didn’t give up Butler only to let LaVine go as a restricted free agent. But there could be some interesting negotiations. Paxson said general manager Gar Forman will talk to LaVine’s agent ”at the appropriate time.”

”I think the market has tightened up a little bit the last couple years,” Paxson said. ”But we obviously value Zach a lot. We think he’s a part of our future, but he has the opportunity to explore things.

The two-time slam dunk champion missed the first 42 games while recovering from a torn ACL in the left knee that he suffered with Minnesota and sat out the final 14 because of tendinitis in the knee. LaVine flashed his explosiveness but clearly had some rust to knock off when he was available, averaging 16.7 points in 24 games. For now, he’s looking forward to a summer without rehab.

”I missed the whole last offseason and that’s where I make a lot of my jumps in the summer,” LaVine said.

ON POINT

From struggling rookie to solid NBA player in his second season Davante Adams Jersey , Dunn made quite a jump. But he remains far from a finished product. Though he averaged 13.4 points in 52 games and tied for fourth in the league in steals (2 per game), Dunn averaged 2.9 turnovers. Paxson said he’s comfortable with him as the No. 1 point guard next season and Cameron Payne as the backup. But did Dunn do enough to establish himself as the Bulls’ long-term starter?

”What we saw from Kris Dunn this year was really encouraging,” said Paxson, who would like to see Dunn become a stronger finisher. ”When he was healthy, he showed some real competitiveness.”

PRAISING HOIBERG

Paxson had strong praise for Hoiberg, saying he and his staff ”set the culture correctly in the summer” and held the team together despite all the losses. Hoiberg is 110-136 in three seasons with the Bulls. But he finally had a roster suited to his pace and space style.

”Fred and our guys set the tone when our guys came back and they just had the everyday attitude of working,” Paxson said. ”That needs to carry over and it will. Our guys need to continue to buy in which we believe they will.”

DRAFT ON TAP

With the sixth or seventh slot in the lottery and a pick from New Orleans in the 20 to 23 range, the Bulls need to hit in the draft this year if they’re going to accelerate the rebuild. Paxson indicated the Bulls will look to add more size and versatility on the wing. Mikal Bridges of Villanova could be a possibility with their higher pick.

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