The Packers are rolling into 2026 with a pass-rushing bet that can’t stay theoretical for long. Green Bay has chosen to lean on young, unproven edge talent while waiting for Micah Parsons to get healthy, and that decision will be under the microscope almost immediately.
At the center of it is Lukas Van Ness, who has never topped 4.0 sacks in a season but is being asked to become the team’s top option early in the year. On the other side, Barryn Sorrell is expected to start opposite him, and the depth behind them doesn’t bring much more certainty. The Packers are counting on development, plus a more creative approach from new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, to make the whole plan work.
There’s no hiding from the risk. Green Bay is banking on a group with limited track records to hold up until Parsons is ready, and that kind of setup can unravel fast if the pressure doesn’t arrive.
The good news for the Packers is that the opening stretch of the schedule gives them a clean read on where this group stands. In the first three weeks, Green Bay is set to see Kyler Murray, Geno Smith, and either Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. None of those quarterbacks is a real threat as a runner, and each offensive line has at least one weak point that a solid pass rush should be able to attack.
That early run could tell Green Bay a lot without putting the season in immediate danger. If Van Ness takes a leap and the front starts winning, the Packers can settle in and let the plan breathe. If it doesn’t, the front office may have to think about a bigger swing, with Josh Sweat or Maxx Crosby mentioned as possible desperation additions if they end up on the trade market.
That’s what makes the soft opening so valuable. The Packers have given themselves a chance to sort out the pass-rush question before the schedule gets serious, and before any early problems turn into lost games against teams expected to be fighting for draft position later in the year.
It was a gamble either way. Now Green Bay gets an early answer on whether it was the right one.
In Other News...
Packers Players Spark Debate With Their Night Out In Chicago
Several Packers players made the trip to Soldier Field in Chicago for Night 2 of Yes homecoming concert, taking in a show that drew 70,000 fans and featured multiple special guests. Jordan Love, Micah Parsons and Dani-Dennis Sutton were among the players who shared upbeat reactions on social media, giving the outing a little extra visibility at a time when every public appearance by prominent athletes tends to travel fast.
Yes return to touring in the United States after several years made the concert a noteworthy event on its own, and the Packers presence only added to the conversation around it. For a team whose players are already under the microscope, a night like this can quickly become more than just a night off, especially when reactions from the locker room start to circulate before the next round of football headlines takes over. [Read more 🡒]
Packers May Have An Undrafted Receiver Fans Can't Ignore
J. Michael Sturdivant did enough in the preseason to make the Packers keep paying attention, and for an undrafted rookie receiver, that is no small feat. A six-catch, 112-yard game helped him turn a camp body label into a legitimate roster spot, and it came at a time when Green Bay was sorting out a receiver room that already features Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden at the top.
Sturdivant is not being asked to step in as a primary target, but his size and speed give the Packers another different look in the passing game. The expectation is that he can help stretch the field and work the sidelines, the kind of role that can matter even without a heavy target share, especially if Green Bay keeps looking for depth behind its established receivers. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Quietly Have A Weapon Fans May Be Undervaluing
As the Packers get ready for their Sept. 13 opener against the Vikings, one of the most reliable weapons on the roster is still hiding in plain sight. Daniel Whelan turned in a record-breaking 2025 season, averaging 51.7 yards per punt to lead the league and set a Packers record, a sign that Green Bays field-position edge can start long before the offense takes the field.
Whelan has quietly become a major part of the Packers special teams over the past three seasons, and his role only looks more important as the 2026 season approaches. He is already projected to be a first-team All-Pro punter next year, which says plenty about how much value Green Bay has gotten from a player fans may not talk about nearly enough. [Read more 🡒]