GREEN BAY – The Packers hosted the Arizona Cardinals for a spirited joint practice at Ray Nitschke Field on Wednesday, Green Bay’s final public practice of training camp.

Here are five things we learned:

1. Tucker Kraft got what he wanted out of a hard-hitting, spirited practice.

The Packers’ tight end made it known after he was activated off the physically unable to perform list on July 31 that his goal was to be cleared for full participation in the team’s joint practice.

Kraft cleared that hurdle in a physical way on Wednesday as he was banging pads with every Arizona defender who came into his path during the two-hour, 14-minute practice.

It started with Kraft exchanging words with Cardinals safety Andrew Wingard after the two collided while the Green Bay tight end finished to the end zone in an early red-zone period.

Later, Kraft converted a fourth down in the final two-minute period against the Cardinals’ starting defense only to be on the receiving end of a late hit along Arizona’s sideline, drawing a personal foul.

Unlikely to play in Friday’s preseason finale against the Cardinals, Kraft looked at the joint practice as a key checkpoint in his return from the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered last November against Carolina.

“I was smiling. That was a good hit,” said Kraft afterwards. “I haven’t had a hit like that since Nov. 2 (vs. the Panthers). That was an opportunity for me right there to wake up, season’s here.”

The 6-foot-5, 259-pound tight end said he no longer thinks about the knee. Instead, Kraft’s focus is on his footwork and fundamentals in preparation for the Packers’ regular-season opener against Minnesota on Sept. 13.

Kraft doesn’t see himself on a rep count, either.

“I felt free out there today,” Kraft said. “I’ve gotten to the point now with my attitude for my health now where I feel good and I’m confident where I’m going to stay out there and you guys take me out when I need to come out, when I’m tired. If not, I’m not doing the rep count stuff anymore. You can pull me off the field. I’m gonna try to be out there as much as I can.”

The only question now is whether Kraft and the Packers come to a long-term agreement on a contract extension prior to the start of the regular season. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, the fourth-year tight end remains hopeful.

“The people in charge of my contract know what I bring to the table and they appreciate me very much and we’re gonna continue to work closer to finalizing the details on that contract,” Kraft said.

“I would say we’re on the same page that we’d like to get it done as soon as possible, prior to Week 1 for sure. We’d love to get that done.”

2. Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense was dealing early.

Green Bay’s starting quarterback opened the first team period 8-for-10, which included one of the biggest plays of training camp when he hit receiver Matthew Golden for a 45-yard touchdown.

Golden got a step on both safety Budda Baker and cornerback Denzel Burke and Love put the pass right on the money. Golden looked the pass in over his shoulder and maintained the catch to the ground to a roar from the fans at Nitschke Field.

“It was a really well-designed play that we had dialed up,” Love said. “Budda was kind of playing the post and he started pushing to the left and it really opened up the hole for MG. MG ran a great route and I just put it out there. He did a great job just kind of being able to go down with the ball, secure the catch with two guys closing in on him.”

On the next play, Love fired back with a crosser to Jayden Reed through a tight window. If not for a drop and a possible defensive pass interference penalty against Bo Melton, there’s a chance Love would’ve gone 10 of 10 to open the day.

Momentum turned to Arizona’s favor towards the end of practice, with the Cardinals’ No. 1 defense stymying Green Bay at the 5-yard line. Golden dropped a pass in the back of the end zone on third down before a sack ended the drill.

“I think that was the kind of lowest point of the day was just (the) finish,” Love said. “And I think in training camp, the joint practices, I think it gets a little chippy, things happen, emotions start running a little higher. So, we got to find ways to be able to just dial back in, focus back in and be able to finish a practice.”