Colby Wooden could make his pro debut on Friday night in the Green Bay Packers’ preseason opener. But the fourth-round rookie from Auburn already has been busy breaking into the NFL game in the Packers’ offseason program and training camp, including getting some work with Green Bay’s top defense.

“Coach has given me a shot to go in there with the ones, so I’m going to take advantage of my opportunity,” Wooden said. “I’m definitely excited to be out there competing with the guys. …

MORE NFL:

· PRESEASON WEEK 1: SCHEDULE, TV, ODDS

· AARON RODGERS ON BRYCE YOUNG: ‘CAROLINA’S IN GOOD HANDS’

· AFTER A YEAR’S DELAY, SMOKE MONDAY READY TO MAKE HIS PRO DEBUT

“It’s definitely been good for the confidence. It forces you to learn your stuff more. You’re out there with the ones, you ain’t trying to mess up next to Kenny Clark. It definitely helps the confidence, though, like, ‘Hey, these coaches believe in me.’ They’ve definitely given me a shot, and I’m excited to prove myself.”

Clark is preparing for his eighth season in Green Bay’s defensive line, and he likes what he’s seen from Wooden.

“He’s extremely versatile,” Clark said. “He can play all the positions. Extremely smart, too. Coach threw him right into the fire as soon as he got here. He hit the ground running with it. He’s twitchy, another athletic guy that can get in creases and do a good job at slanting, got strong hands and stuff like that, so I’m going to continue to just keep on pushing him and keep working with him, and I’m excited for his growth.”

While Clark returns, the Packers lost their other two defensive-line starters in the offseason when former Alabama standout Jarran Reed signed with the Seattle Seahawks and Dean Lowry signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Returning to the defensive line with Clark are T.J. Slaton, a nose tackle who played 32 percent of Green Bay’s defensive snaps in this second season, and Devonte Wyatt, a first-round pick who played 22 percent of the snaps as a rookie.

Green Bay’s first depth chart of the preseason shows Clark, Slayton and Wyatt as the starting defensive linemen, with Wooden on the second team behind Clark.

“He’s a great kid, first and foremost,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said about Wooden. “I love his approach to the game. He’s working. He’s studying his butt off. He’s doing everything he can, and we’re going to have to count on him.”

Although the Green Bay defense finished in the middle of the pack among the NFL’s 32 teams in 2022 in points allowed and yards allowed at 18th and 17th, respectively, only six teams yielded more rushing yards and only four recorded fewer sacks than the Packers last season.

As a starter over the previous three seasons at Auburn, Wooden had 147 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, six pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.

Green Bay will kick off its three-game preseason schedule against the Cincinnati Bengals at 6 p.m. CDT Friday at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. NFL Network will televise the game.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.