The Green Bay Packers finally got one, but it came wrapped in a mess.
They outlasted the New York Jets in overtime, 28-yard field goal by rookie Trey Smack finishing off a comeback from a two-score hole. It snapped a six-game losing streak that dated back to December 14 and gave Green Bay its first win of the season.
The result counts. The performance?
That left plenty to sort through.
The biggest concern came before the game had even settled in. On the Packers’ opening drive, wide receiver Jayden Reed went down and was taken off on a stretcher before being ruled out with a neck injury.
One play later, right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele was carted off with a knee injury, his right leg in an air cast. Later, left guard Aaron Banks exited and was replaced by Donovan Jennings, who also had to leave early, opening the door for rookie Jager Burton.
Jordan Love was also seen stretching out his throwing hand, though he stayed in the game.
It was a brutal injury day, especially with another game coming in four days. Reed is the one everyone will be waiting on.
The Packers also hurt themselves again with penalties, and that’s becoming a pattern that won’t go away. Javon Bullard set the tone when he broke up a pass on third down, only to be hit with a taunting penalty that extended the Jets’ drive.
That kind of thing kept popping up all afternoon. Green Bay finished with 13 accepted penalties for 129 yards, while New York declined three more.
For a team that talks like a contender, that’s way too much sloppiness. It also followed last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, when three drive-extending penalties did real damage.
There was one clear bright spot on the defensive side: Lukas Van Ness looked like a player ready to make noise. With Micah Parsons still sidelined, the Packers needed Van Ness to step up, and he delivered.
He finished with 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and a team-high 10 tackles, including seven solo stops. By PFF’s early count, he also added six total pressures and two run stops.
He backed up a strong showing against the Vikings, where he had one sack and three pressures.
Another huge boost came from Skyy Moore, who may already be making a case as the Packers’ best offseason pickup. He changed the game in the return game, piling up 92 punt return yards on four tries, including a 63-yard burst.
On kickoffs, he averaged 29 yards on four returns and ripped off a long of 43. He also got involved on offense after Reed’s injury and caught two passes.
That role could grow fast.
Still, the bigger picture is simple: Green Bay has a long way to go. The weather was rough, the injuries were ugly, and the game was chaotic, but the self-inflicted mistakes have to stop. The Packers can enjoy getting in the win column, but they can’t pretend this was clean enough to build on without major improvement.
And there was at least one small consolation: they can’t blow a fourth-quarter lead if they never had one. That’s something, at least.
Now the Packers turn around quickly for Thursday Night Football and their home opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
In Other News...
Micah Parsons Just Gave Jets Fans A Reason To Keep Watching
Micah Parsons is still working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered in December 2025, and the Packers have kept him on the physically unable to perform list as he misses the first four games of the season. Even so, the star pass rusher has stayed visible around the team and around the league, posting rehab updates and a photo on social media from MetLife Stadium with a fellow Penn State alum.
The important next step is still ahead. Parsons is expected to be cleared to practice in Week 3, which would open a two-week ramp-up before he can get back into game action, and that timeline gives Green Bay a clearer idea of when one of its top defenders might rejoin the mix. For now, the rehab grind continues, and so does the wait to see when he can turn those positive signs into actual snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Williams Injury Suddenly Changes What Packers Fans Should Expect
Caleb Williams hamstring strain in Week 2 against the Vikings changes the look of the NFC North in a hurry, and Packers fans have every reason to notice. The injury came on a non-contact rushing attempt in the fourth quarter, a painful reminder of how quickly a quarterback-driven division can tilt when the centerpiece goes down.
Tyson Bagent stepped in for Williams, and Chicago now has a difficult stretch ahead while the rookie starters availability is up in the air. The range on the recovery is wide enough to matter for Green Bay, because the Packers may have to prepare for a Bears offense that looks very different depending on how long Williams is sidelined. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Open Week 2 With A Road Twist Fans Will Notice Fast
Sundays Packers-Jets meeting in East Rutherford comes with a broadcast pairing fans will recognize right away, as Jonathan Vilma and Kenny Albert are set to call the game. The Week 2 matchup kicks off at 1 p.m. Eastern on September 20, and it also doubles as the Jets home opener, which brings a little extra pageantry to a game already carrying the usual early-season scrutiny.
New York is planning to lean into the moment with a new White-out alternate uniform, while Green Bay will show up in its traditional home look on the road. It is the kind of setup that gives an early September game a little more texture, especially with TV and radio coverage in place and the usual matchup details drawing attention before the teams even take the field. [Read more 🡒]