The Packers are heading into the first month-plus of the regular season without Micah Parsons, and that reality is already raising questions about how they plan to survive it.
Parsons is still recovering from an ACL injury, and Green Bay has made it clear it won’t rush him back before he’s fully ready. That leaves the Packers with a pass-rushing problem they haven’t done much to solve, even after an offseason that could have brought more help.
General manager Brian Gutekunst was asked about the group, and his answer didn’t exactly quiet the concern.
“Yeah, I think we do,” Gutekunst said (h/t Bill Huber). “I’m really excited about the group we have.
We only kept four on the active [roster] but, on the practice squad, we were able to keep Nyjalik [Kelly] as well as Arron Mosby,” Gutekunst continued. “As you know, things can change, but those six guys I feel pretty good about.”
That’s a pretty modest vote of confidence for a team trying to cover for one of its best players.
No one is pretending the Packers can replace Parsons one-for-one. That’s not the point. The problem is whether they have enough juice to get by without him, and Gutekunst’s comments didn’t exactly project certainty.
There’s also the issue of what happens once Parsons is cleared. Even then, Green Bay may choose to ease him back in carefully. A snap count early in the season wouldn’t be surprising, and there’s often a longer ramp-up before a player fully regains his explosiveness and mobility after this kind of injury.
The bigger issue is what the Packers did - and didn’t - address this offseason. They passed on improving the interior of the offensive line and never added a proven pass rusher to fill the void left by Parsons. Rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton brings promise, but he’s still raw, while Javon Hargrave is getting older.
That leaves a lot riding on Lukas Van Ness finally taking the next step after being a first-round pick. If he doesn’t, pressure off the edge could become a real problem.
Green Bay also can’t afford to stumble out of the gate, especially in a loaded NFC North. The defensive backs may feel good about the freedom they have with Jonathan Gannon running things, but the game still comes down to what happens up front.
For the Packers, the question is simple: can they hold the line for six-plus weeks until Parsons is back? Even Gutekunst’s answer suggests that answer is far from guaranteed.
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J. Michael Sturdivant is part of that picture after making the initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie wide receiver, but his immediate role against Minnesota is expected to be limited. Even so, his presence on the roster underscores how much the Packers are leaning on unproven talent right out of the gate, with the opener offering an early look at which rookies are ready when the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Have An Early Opportunity Fans Couldn't Count On Last Year
The Packers are heading into 2026 with something they did not always have a year ago: a healthier roster and a better chance to settle in before the schedule tightens. Most of the group has been on the field in practice ahead of Week 1, with Warren Brinson and Micah Parsons among the few exceptions as Parsons continues his recovery from injury. That alone gives Green Bay a different kind of runway entering the season, especially compared with the constant juggling act of the previous year.
The early slate also looks more forgiving than what this team has had to navigate in other seasons, and that matters for a club trying to build momentum quickly. When the offense under Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love has had its core available, it has shown a steadier level of play, which is part of why there is some quiet confidence around this group. If the Packers can take advantage of this opening stretch, they could spend a lot less time surviving and a lot more time proving they belong in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]