The Packers have plenty to sort out on offense, but the bigger alarm bell may already be ringing on the other side of the ball.
Green Bay is trying to settle in a new-look receiving corps with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden at the top of the depth chart, while Jordan Love also works through a revolving door along the offensive line. But the more dangerous problem might be the one that could define the Packers’ 2026 season: the defense.
CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin pointed to that unit as Green Bay’s clearest red flag entering the year.
“Green Bay’s defense fell apart down the stretch of last season after Micah Parsons went down with his torn ACL,” Dubin writes for CBS. “Parsons will reportedly miss at least part of this upcoming season, and the Packers didn’t add much juice to their pass rush to replace him.
They also traded Rashan Gary and let Quay Walker walk in free agency, and while those weren’t elite players, they were quality pieces that the Packers now need to replace. They’re counting on new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to be an upgrade over the departed Jeff Hafley, who is now the head coach in Miami.
He’ll need to provide a big boost, especially before Parsons returns to the fold.”
That’s the crux of the concern for Green Bay. The defense has lost bodies, lost experience and may have to spend the early part of the season trying to manufacture a pass rush without Parsons, potentially for as many as the first six games.
There’s also the possibility of a Keisean Nixon regression in the secondary, which only adds to the list of issues the Packers have to manage.
So while there is still a lot to like about the Packers’ outlook, the worries are stacking up fast. And if those concerns turn into reality, Green Bay’s ceiling in 2026 could come down with them.
In Other News...
Packers Guard Battle Took Shape With One Early Preseason Warning
The Packers guard competition is already taking on shape in August, and the early signs have been mixed. Rookie Jager Burton and third-year lineman Jacob Monk both got turns with the first group in team drills and again in a preseason game, giving Green Bay a real look at how each might fit if the job becomes available.
Monks night was especially revealing because of the way the line kept shifting around him, while Burton was trying to make his own case in live action. Neither player delivered the kind of clean, decisive outing that settles a battle this early, and the Packers now have at least one preseason warning to sort through before the evaluation gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Could Face An Unexpected Roster Twist From NCAA Lawsuit
A new NCAA eligibility fight could end up creating an odd kind of roster ripple for NFL teams, including the Packers, as some members of the 2022 college class explore whether they can reclaim another year in school after the NCAA approved a five-year eligibility agreement. The first official case centers on former LSU player Jack Byburn, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but could head back to college football if he is released and the courts give the green light.
For Green Bay, the wrinkle is less about the headline names and more about the possibility that roster plans could get nudged by players suddenly weighing college over the pros. A Louisiana lawsuit involving 33 athletes has already put the issue on a bigger stage, and with other players getting temporary legal protection, the Packers have at least one more off-the-field variable to monitor as camp decisions start to matter more. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Rookie Absence At Camp Just Took A More Concerning Turn
The Packers Wednesday injury report offered another reminder that training camp can turn quickly from routine to worrisome, especially for a rookie trying to make a first impression. Green Bay listed players on the Physically Unable to Perform list and others who did not practice, and the attention naturally fell on edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, whose recent absence had already made him a player to monitor as the preseason and regular season calendars keep moving.
Matt LaFleur offered the first real explanation for Dennis-Suttons missed time, saying the rookie was dealing with overheating and then an illness rather than anything tied to conditioning. The update helps narrow the focus for a player whose camp availability has become a point of concern, even if the full picture around his early August setback still leaves one important question hanging for the Packers as they work through the rest of practice. [Read more 🡒]