The Green Bay Packers opened their season with a special teams penalty that wiped out an impressive run from kick returner Savion Williams. Opening with a special teams penalty makes time feel like a flat circle for Packers fans, but Rich Bisaccia’s unit actually played pretty darn well after that initial hiccup.
The much-maligned third phase didn’t need to do too much, with the offense and defense deftly handling the Detroit Lions, but the wee-fence had a really good day at the office.
With their three specialists signing extensions this offseason and playing well, some bright spots at returner, and impactful contributions from key role players, Green Bay’s special teams put on a downright pleasant show. We obviously don’t want to overreact after only a week, but could the Packers finally have the right players to field a season-long competent special teams unit?
The opening penalty was just one of two on the day, thankfully. Bisaccia’s group played a mostly clean game, despite those two penalties and five missed tackles.
Keisean Nixon said he didn’t want to return kicks anymore after last season. Although he retracted that statement somewhat, it appears Green Bay may not want to risk their CB1 on teams, especially with Nate Hobbs missing the game. That gave Williams an opportunity,
We haven’t seen much of Williams thanks to him being sidelined with injuries, and he showed some really nice things as a returner. Despite being called back, his first return was an impressive 37-yard gain and showed he could be a viable option. Concerning what actually counted, he had two returns for a combined 39 yards, with a long of 21.
At punt returner, we saw Matthew Golden on the first punt before Jayden Reed returned to the role for the rest of the game. Both receivers put up positive yardage with no egregious errors. You’ll take that any day.
Brandon McManus, who signed a three-year deal this offseason, was automatic. Making both of his field goal attempts and all of his extra points. Kicker was consistently one of the team’s biggest issues since Bisaccia took over, and having a reliable veteran has calmed the heart rate of Packers fans worldwide.
Daniel Whelan, who signed an extension a few days before the season opener, again demonstrated why punters can be a valuable weapon. He punted thrice, averaging 48.3 yards and including a beautiful, field-flipping 65-yard boot. Whelan pinned the Lions inside their 20-yard line twice and kept the field position advantage for the Packers.
Punter doesn’t get the fanfare of other positions, but having a reliable one who can define the starting position is a massive boon. The Packers were wise to lock in Whelan’s services for at least two more years.
Daniel Whelan waits until 22 seconds left in the opening half for his first punt…and uncorks it 66 yards. Just a 6-yard return. Good lord.
And that's why #Packers just extended him.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) September 7, 2025
The Packers were also great on kick and punt returns.
In addition to having a solid performance on offense, running back Chris Brooks was one of Bisaccia’s best players on the day. Brooks had three tackles (one solo) and earned a 90 PFF grade for special teams.
Nick Niemann joined him on the two assisted tackles. Niemann had four tackles, including pinning the Lions after Whelan’s 65-yard punt to end the first half. It kept the Lions from attempting anything before the end of the half, preventing any double-dip scoring with Detroit receiving the ball to start the second half.
Niemann joined the Packers after final roster cuts with an eye toward being a core special teamer. It’s early days, but if Niemann keeps up his relentless pursuit and reliable tackling, he could be one of Bisaccia’s stars.
Newcomer Nick Niemann had 4 tackles covering kicks and punts. Do-everything running back Chris Brooks had 3 special teams tackles (and several great pass pro reps).
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) September 8, 2025
It wasn’t a flawless day, but Bisaccia’s group opened the season with a valuable contribution to the win. Special teams played complementary football, controlled the field position advantage, and didn’t leave points off the board. That’s a great formula.
Signing all three of their specialists (long snapper Matthew Orzech signed his on roster cut-down day) shows that the Packers finally have a core group they trust and who have good chemistry together. That alone should elevate the unit compared to the past few seasons.
Returner remains an uncertainty going forward, but a willingness to experiment and find the best player for the job is an encouraging sign. It’s also a great way to get Williams involved after missing so much time this summer.
While the team would prefer every special teams player to be able to play a role on offense or defense when needed, Brian Gutekunst has shown a willingness to sign players with special teams in mind. Niemann made a great first impression and can be a core guy moving forward.
We’ll see if special teams can continue to be an asset, and Green Bay has a tough opponent in the Washington Commanders on a short week. But we saw encouraging play from the group in the opener, and a competent special teams group could be a difference maker in this Super Bowl-hopeful team.
The Packers had the 2nd best starting field position in Week 1 and held the Lions to the 29th. 15 yard difference before the offenses even come onto the field pic.twitter.com/QlkDJOjOkB
— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) September 9, 2025