The Packers didn’t get much out of their preseason opener, and that’s exactly why Friday night against the Broncos matters. After a flat 28-9 loss to the Steelers, Green Bay heads to Colorado with a roster that still has plenty to sort out - and not much room for another sleepy showing.
Most of the spotlight won’t land on the starters for long, if they play much at all. Instead, this one is about the depth chart, the roster fights, and the players trying to force the coaches’ hand before the games start counting for real.
The biggest swing factor sits in the secondary. Green Bay’s cornerback room is still unsettled, with Keisean Nixon not locked into a starting job and Brandon Cisse pushing to open the season at the top of the depth chart.
Cisse appears to have separated himself, but there’s still a lot left to sort through behind him. Nixon, Benjamin St-Juste, and Carrington Valentine are all in the mix, and the Packers need someone to rise in a group that was an obvious problem last year.
Nixon had a rough outing in Week 1, and after the drama around him this week, he’ll be eager to show he still belongs in the conversation.
Quarterback is another spot worth tracking closely. Tyrod Taylor and Kyle McCord didn’t do much with their chances last week, and both need a far cleaner performance this time around.
With Jordan Love likely not playing long and Kyron Drones no longer on the team, the backup job comes down to Taylor and McCord. Taylor still looks like the de facto QB2, but McCord has a chance to keep making this uncomfortable.
If he keeps flashing, Green Bay may have to think hard about whether it’s too risky to try to sneak him onto the practice squad.
The running back room has its own set of questions. Josh Jacobs is the starter and the star, but he’s been dealing with an injury and legal issues that are still unresolved.
MarShawn Lloyd has the talent to matter, yet health has already been a problem throughout his short career. That puts extra pressure on the backs behind them.
Damien Martinez got plenty of run last week, while Chris Brooks and Pierre Strong Jr. haven’t done enough to separate themselves. With Lloyd still not fully reliable, the RB3 race could wind up mattering more than it looks on paper.
Up front, the left guard spot is suddenly one to watch. The Packers signed Aaron Banks to a lucrative contract last year expecting stability, but that hasn’t happened.
Banks had a rough first season in Green Bay and has missed most of camp while working back from tendonitis in his knee. He’s been ramping up this week and could see the field, but his grip on the job is no longer firm.
Rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton has been getting more work with the starters, even with Banks back in the mix. Tackle Anthony Belton is also an option there, though the Packers would much prefer one of Burton or Banks to settle the position.
Then there’s Dani Dennis-Sutton, who could finally make his NFL debut. The fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft drew plenty of attention as a Penn State pass-rusher many believed slipped too far.
He showed some things in camp, but illness kept him out of last week’s game. If he’s ready Friday, he becomes one of the more interesting players on the field.
The edge-rushing group needs help without Micah Parsons, and while Lukas Van Ness is locked in as a starter, Dennis-Sutton joins Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox Jr., and Collin Oliver in trying to prove they can carry some of that load for at least the next month of the regular season.
In Other News...
Packers Could Need Backfield Insurance Sooner Than Anyone Wanted
The Packers backfield has a little more uncertainty around it than anyone in Green Bay probably wanted heading into the stretch run. Josh Jacobs legal situation leaves the team facing some awkward questions at running back, and MarShawn Lloyd still has the kind of limited NFL experience that makes any depth chart feel thinner than it looks on paper.
One possible answer floating around is Cardinals back Trey Benson, whose potential has been enough to keep him in the conversation even with an injury history attached. A deal would make some sense on both sides, especially with the coaching link between Matt LaFleur and Arizonas Mike LaFleur in the background, but for now it remains the kind of idea that underscores how quickly Green Bays need for insurance could become urgent. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Defense Suddenly Has A 2026 Debate Fans Will Love
The Packers defensive reset under Jonathan Gannon is already giving fans something to chew on for 2026, and not just because of the new 3-4 base he is bringing with him. Any scheme change in Green Bay is going to get measured against how quickly the front can adapt, and this one comes with a few obvious pressure points, especially for a defense that expects to lean on playmakers rather than simply survive the transition.
Micah Parsons sits at the center of the conversation, with expectations that his impact could rise even if he plays fewer games, while Brandon Cisse is suddenly part of the cornerback discussion in a way that could put him in the hunt for a major rookie honor. Lukas Van Ness is in that mix too, with the kind of season ahead that could finally turn potential into a true double-digit sack breakthrough, giving the Packers a defense with several very different, but equally intriguing, long-term outcomes to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Face A Josh Jacobs Worry That Could Hit Before Week 1
Josh Jacobs is back on the practice field after an injury, giving the Packers a needed positive as they work toward Week 1. But even with his return, there is still an off-field issue hanging over the team, as the league continues to review the alleged domestic incident that surfaced earlier in the offseason.
Adam Schefter reported that the NFL is investigating the matter and that discipline could come before the season begins, leaving Green Bay with an unresolved question around one of its key additions. Jacobs has denied any wrongdoing, and while he was released from jail, the case remains under investigation as the Packers wait to see whether this situation takes another turn before the opener. [Read more 🡒]