The Packers are headed into 2026 with too many unknowns to keep leaning on the same formula.
Micah Parsons’ return from a torn ACL doesn’t come with a clear timetable, and Josh Jacobs is on the commissioner exempt list. That leaves Green Bay with a familiar name standing as the one real constant: Jordan Love. And if the Packers want this season to go anywhere, they’re going to have to ask a lot more of him.
For the last two years, Matt LaFleur has built around the ground game. Green Bay finished fifth in the league in rushing attempts per game in 2024 at 30.6, then seventh in 2025 at 28.6.
That approach has helped the Packers stay productive, but it has also kept Love from carrying the offense the way a franchise quarterback usually does. In his three seasons as a starter, Green Bay has never finished better than 20th in passing attempts per game.
That balance is going to have to shift.
With MarShawn Lloyd looking like the top option in the backfield, the Packers are taking on some risk if they expect him to absorb a heavy workload. Lloyd has played in just one game across his first two years in Titletown while dealing with hamstring, hip, ankle, groin, and calf injuries. He’s looked good this summer, but Green Bay can’t build its whole offensive plan around hope in the backfield.
The Packers gave Love a $220 million extension for a reason. They believe he’s their franchise quarterback, and with so many moving pieces around him, he may need to be the steadying force that keeps everything together.
Green Bay does have a capable group of pass catchers. Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Tucker Kraft give Love plenty to work with. But that group only matters if LaFleur is willing to loosen the reins.
That means more freedom, more deep shots, and more responsibility for Love to push the offense forward. The run-first approach has worked well enough the last couple of seasons, but the Packers may not be able to count on that same level of success in 2026.
If Green Bay is going to take the next step, Love and the passing game have to be the engine. The Packers don’t need to abandon the run, but they do need to become more pass-happy this fall.
For this team, letting Jordan Love cook isn’t just a slogan. It’s the clearest path forward.
In Other News...
Packers Finalize Their QB3 Plan After Kyle McCord Decision
The Packers have settled on their third-quarterback plan, bringing in former Cardinals passer Kedon Slovis to join the practice squad behind Jordan Love and Tyrod Taylor. General manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed the move in a press conference, giving Green Bay a little more clarity at a position where depth can disappear quickly over the course of a season.
Slovis also comes with a familiar face from the preseason, having played against the Packers in the finale before ending up on their side of the roster decisions. His path has been anything but straightforward, with stops across multiple teams and colleges before landing in Green Bay, and the Packers are now betting that experience can help stabilize the back end of the quarterback room. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Still Have One Clear Standard For No. 56
No. 56 has had a surprisingly deep run through Packers history, with a mix of old-school names and more modern standouts giving the number a little extra weight in Green Bay. Nate Barragar and Ted Hendricks both bring Hall of Fame cachet to the conversation, while Julius Peppers added a short-lived burst of star power during his brief stint with the team.
Still, the standard most Packers fans seem to land on is Nick Barnett, whose eight seasons gave the number its most dependable and complete identity. Barnetts production was steady from year to year, and his 789 tackles and a memorable interception return gave No. 56 the kind of sustained impact that tends to stick in a fan bases memory long after the flashier cases have faded. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Emergency Running Back Plan Is Already Drawing The Wrong Debate
When Josh Jacobs landed on the Commissioners Exempt List, Green Bay had to move quickly to stabilize the backfield, and the front office settled on Kaleb Johnson, acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was the kind of emergency swing teams make when the season is already moving, with the Packers needing a back who could step in and help absorb snaps while the situation around Jacobs plays out.
The wrinkle is that Johnson was not the only name under consideration. Tyrone Tracy Jr. of the New York Giants was viewed as a possible alternative, but he stayed put after a late preseason performance that helped cement his spot. Tracy also dealt with a minor injury in a recent game before returning to the sideline, while Johnson arrives in Green Bay with limited NFL experience and production, which has already pushed the conversation toward what the Packers might have preferred instead of the player they actually got. [Read more 🡒]