Despite two quiet performances to start the preseason, the Green Bay Packers are still pleased with the development of top pick Rashan Gary.

Asked by reporters if he’s seen progress over two preseason games from the Packers’ talented young edge rusher, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine didn’t hesitate.

“Oh, without a doubt. We’re pleased with where he is,” Pettine said Saturday at Lambeau Field.

Pettine explained how the Packers are throwing everything at Gary early and letting him learn on the fly during camp and the preseason, with the anticipation that they’ll narrow it down and allow him to do what he does best once the regular season arrives.

“Just teaching him the outside linebacker position, we knew that he was going to be a little bit of a work in progress. We’re teaching him all of it,” Pettine said. “There are some things he’s doing now he won’t be doing in the regular season. As we get closer, we’ll hone that down and get him in positions where he’s ready to excel.”

Gary played 32 snaps against the Houston Texans and 34 against the Baltimore Ravens, but he’s yet to record a tackle or sack – even though he’s occasionally dominated stretches of practice during training camp.

Pettine pointed to various in-game circumstances – and not necessarily Gary’s performance – as the primary reason for the lack of production during games.

“He’s had some real good rush opportunities in these games and he’s done a nice job on most of them,” Pettine said. “Sometimes it’s just the nature of the game. Look at Baltimore’s pass game, the ball was coming out quick where the quarterback was on the move. So there weren’t as many extended drop-back opportunities as you would typically get. That’s part it. Overall, we’re pleased with where he is and the direction he’s headed.”

The Packers are hopeful more reps will accelerate Gary’s development at outside linebacker, a position he didn’t play at Michigan.

“It’s a transition to a position he hasn’t played a lot of. That’s difficult,” Pettine said.

Pettine believes the new position – and everything the Packers are throwing at him from a playbook and technique standpoint – has likely led to more thinking and less playing free from Gary.

That could change with more reps. And the preseason is the perfect setting for Gary to get precious reps and experience playing outside linebacker before Pettine and outside linebackers coach Mike Smith narrow down his responsibilities to start the regular season.

The production isn’t there yet, but the Packers aren’t worried about where he’s at after two preseason games. It’s going to be a process with Gary, and Pettine and the Packers are still very early into that process.