In 2026, the Green Bay Packers are set up to lean on their rookie class more than they usually do. That’s especially true in Week 1, when they open against the Minnesota Vikings and may need first-year players to fill real roles right away.
The big reason is simple: Green Bay did not have a Day 1 draft pick this year. Even if a first-round label does not automatically lead to major snaps -- Matthew Golden’s first season after going 23rd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft is a reminder of that -- the lack of that kind of premium selection puts even more pressure on the players the Packers did add in April.
That creates an obvious question heading into Sunday: which rookies are most likely to matter?
For this exercise, it’s easiest to focus only on players currently on the 53-man roster. A practice-squad elevation could change the picture, but without new injury information, that remains too uncertain to build around.
At the bottom of the rookie usage list is J. Michael Sturdivant.
He is the only rookie on the roster who did not arrive through the draft, and he already cleared an important hurdle by making the team after outlasting several capable receivers in camp and the preseason. The former Florida Gators wideout has already outperformed expectations, even if The Leap’s 2026 UDFA Prospectus had faith in him.
His place on the roster also keeps Green Bay’s streak alive: the Packers have now had at least one undrafted rookie on the Week 1 roster in 22 straight years.
Still, a roster spot does not guarantee a big Sunday workload. With Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, and Jayden Reed expected to handle most of the receiver snaps, and Tucker Kraft back in the mix, there may not be many targets left for a player near the bottom of the depth chart like Sturdivant. His contribution could come on special teams, though there’s also a chance he ends up inactive for the opener.
In Other News...
Packers Practice Squad Move Hints At A Bigger Offensive Plan
The Packers filled their final practice-squad opening by signing rookie running back Damon Bankston, a move that fits neatly with the kind of backfield they seem to be building. Bankston first came through Green Bay as a pre-draft visitor, then landed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent before making his way back to the Packers, where his skill set lines up with an offense leaning into outside zone concepts.
For a team continuing to shape both its roster and its scheme, the addition is more than simple depth. Green Bay has been piecing together personnel that makes sense for what it wants to do on offense, and Bankstons fit in that system is hard to miss. Whether the move is mostly about competition, development, or something bigger in the playbook, it adds another clue about the direction the Packers are heading. [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 🡒]
Packers Quietly Added A Pass Catcher Who Could Matter Fast
The Packers quietly bolstered their tight end room by adding free agent Jonnu Smith to the 53-man roster after an injury left backup Luke Musgrave unavailable. It is the kind of move that can slide under the radar at this point in the season, but Green Bay clearly wanted another pass catcher with enough experience to step into an important role if needed.
Smith did not post big numbers with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, but his track record in Miami and Atlanta shows he has been more than a depth piece at other stops. For Jordan Love, the appeal is pretty clear: a veteran tight end who can serve as a dependable target and give the offense another layer as the 2026 season comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]