That’s more like it for the Green Bay Packers.
After a shaky start to the preseason, Green Bay came away with an emphatic win over the Denver Broncos, and while August results don’t count in the standings, this one still mattered in the way preseason games always do: the Packers left with a victory in a stadium that has given them nothing but bad memories over the years, and they did it while mostly staying healthy.
The biggest headline of the night belonged to Trey Smack. Really, that’s the story.
The rookie has wiped away the early training-camp worries and stayed perfect in the preseason, drilling field goals from 59, 51, 43, and 38 yards while also converting all three extra points. They were straight down the middle, the kind of kicks that look easy enough to make from the parking lot.
Jordan Love didn’t need much time to make his mark. On his lone drive, he completed 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards and found MarShawn Lloyd for a touchdown. Love looked in full command at the line and kept winning before the snap.
Lloyd kept building on that momentum, too. He stayed healthy again and flashed plenty of burst against Denver, even if there’s still a little room for him to be more decisive.
The talent keeps showing up, and so does his receiving ability - including an 11-yard touchdown. Defensive coordinators got a reminder not to leave him covered by a linebacker or edge defender and expect that to end well.
There was also a strong case made for Brandon Cisse as the CB1. The only concern came when he reportedly limped off after the first drive, though he was said to be moving fine on the sideline. On the field, he erased veteran receiver Courtland Sutton the lone time Bo Nix tested him.
Pierre Strong may have taken a real step toward the 53-man roster. He carried the ball eight times for 37 yards and added a 68-yard kick return, which puts him firmly in the conversation.
Skyy Moore is making his signing look smart, too. He brought back a 30-yard kick return and a 16-yard punt return, then chipped in on offense with a seven-yard catch and a six-yard jet-sweep run. Matt LaFleur may have found his next Tyler Ervin.
Will Sheppard still has plenty of ground to cover if he wants to crack the 53-man roster, but he kept turning heads with six catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. At this point, he may be pulling ahead in the race for a practice squad spot, assuming he clears waivers after the preseason.
Tyrod Taylor, meanwhile, had a rougher night. He did throw a touchdown pass, but his overall line - 4 of 8 for 17 yards - showed how hard every yard was coming. It’s the second straight week he’s struggled, and while there’s nowhere near a QB2 controversy, the Packers need more from the 37-year-old.
In Other News...
Packers Face One Tough WR Decision Before Final Cuts
With roster cutdown day approaching, the Packers have one of their more interesting decisions still sitting at the back end of the wide receiver room. The top spots appear to be spoken for, but the conversation now shifts to the seventh receiver, where the margin is shaped as much by special teams value and blocking as it is by pure receiving production.
Green Bays coaching staff has long leaned toward bigger wideouts who can help in the run game and hold up on coverage units, so the final evaluation is not just about who can catch the ball. Three candidates are still in the mix for that last job, and the choice may come down to which player gives the roster the cleanest blend of size, toughness and special teams utility before the cuts are finalized. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Kicker Battle Suddenly Has One Detail Fans Havent Seen
The Packers ongoing search for stability at kicker has taken another turn thanks to rookie Trey Smack, who has quietly put together a perfect start to the preseason. Across two games, he has drilled all seven of his field-goal tries, including three from beyond 50 yards, a showing that stands out for a team still trying to settle a position that has been far too unsettled since 2023.
Smacks practice work has not always matched what he has shown under the lights, which is why the competition remains worth watching. Even so, games are where kickers are judged, and the rookie has given Green Bay something it has been missing for a while - a reason to believe the answer might already be in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Packers May Have Found Something Real In Trey Smack
Trey Smack kept making his case in Denver, and the Packers had to notice. The rookie kicker was perfect on all four of his field-goal tries in the preseason win over the Broncos, continuing a strong run in exhibition games and giving Green Bay another encouraging sign at a spot that can turn quickly from routine to urgent.
Smacks preseason success has come after some uneven moments in training camp, which makes the contrast worth watching. He has handled game action well enough to go 7-for-7 overall, including four makes from 50-plus yards, but Matt LaFleur made clear the real test is whether that level holds up with more consistency when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]