Packers look to bounce back from
disappointing finish to last season
[September 03, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-8-1)
Expectations
The Packers believe they can make a Super Bowl run and end their
recent history of playoff disappointment. They have reached the
postseason in each of the three years since Jordan Love took over as
the starting quarterback, but they’ve had the NFC’s seventh and
final playoff seed each of those years and have back-to-back losses
in the wild-card round. New Packers president/CEO Ed Policy showed
his faith in coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst
by giving them contract extensions even after the team ended last
season with five straight losses. There are new faces on the
coaching staff, with former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan
Gannon taking over as defensive coordinator and Cam Achord arriving
as special teams coordinator. The uncertainty surrounding two of
Green Bay’s top players makes it tough to forecast how well the
Packers will fare this year. All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons will
miss the first part of the season after tearing his left anterior
cruciate ligament last November. Parsons has indicated the earliest
he could realistically return is for an Oct. 18 game with the Dallas
Cowboys. Three-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs will open the
season on the commissioner's exempt list — making him unavailable to
play -- as he faces misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal
damage to property stemming from his May arrest.
New faces
OG Jager Burton, CB Brandon Cisse, Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, LB Zaire
Franklin, DL Javon Hargrave, CB Domani Jackson, DT Chris McClellan,
WR/KR Skyy Moore, K Trey Smack, OG CB Benjamin St-Juste, QB Tyrod
Taylor
Key losses
WR Romeo Doubs, DL Kingsley Enagbare, DL Rashan Gary, CB Nate Hobbs,
C Elgton Jenkins, K Brandon McManus, LB Quay Walker, OT Rasheed
Walker, WR Dontayvion Wicks, QB Malik Willis, RB Emanuel Wilson, DL
Colby Wooden
Strengths
Green Bay is formidable at safety with Xavier McKinney, Evan
Williams and Javon Bullard, who typically lines up at nickel.
McKinney earned All-Pro honors in 2024 and was a second-team
selection in voting last year. Williams and Bullard are third-year
pros who have established themselves as key players. The 27-year-old
Love is in his prime as he builds off a 2025 season in which he
ranked sixth in the NFL in passer rating.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) warms up before an
NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, Friday, Aug.
21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Weaknesses
Green Bay gained just 4.1 yards per carry last season for its lowest
average since 2012. There’s reason to worry whether the Packers will
run the ball any better this year, particularly now that Jacobs
won't be available for the start of the season. Jacobs' absence
creates opportunity for MarShawn Lloyd, a 2024 third-round pick who
appeared in only one game the last two seasons due to a variety of
injuries. Green Bay has plenty of questions on its offensive line.
Jordan Morgan is the main starter at left tackle for the first time
after playing primarily guard his first two seasons. Left guard
Aaron Banks has been limited by a knee issue in training camp, and
the right guard spot remains unsettled. Rushing the passer could
prove difficult as long as Parsons is out. The Packers lost all four
games Parsons didn’t play last season — three in the regular season
and one in the playoffs. Special teams has been a major Green Bay
weakness for several years.
Camp developments
Green Bay lacks a clear-cut No. 1 cornerback, but Cisse showed signs
that he eventually could grow into that role. The rookie
second-round pick from South Carolina had an outstanding camp.
Smack, a sixth-round pick from Florida, kicked a 58-yard field goal
and a 59-yarder in Green Bay’s first two preseason games. With
Jacobs limited by a groin injury for much of camp, Lloyd showed
signs he could be a quality contributor if he can avoid injuries.
Fantasy players to watch
TE Tucker Kraft had 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns in
just eight games last season before tearing his right ACL. Kraft
expects to be ready for the start of the season. He should be a
top-three fantasy tight end if he plays the full season. The
departures of Doubs and Wicks could enable Christian Watson to get
more targets and be a quality No. 2 or No. 3 receiver on a fantasy
roster if he stays healthy. Watson came back from a torn ACL and had
35 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games last year.
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