The Green Bay Packers have high expectations in 2026. After stumbling down the stretch to finish 9-7-1 and in the seventh seed in the NFC, the team fully expects to win the NFC North this upcoming year and compete for a Super Bowl. In order to do that, of course, a lot of things need to go their way.
Obviously, they need to avoid the terrible injury issues that plagued them last season. Despite having a great young core of offensive players, the combination of Jordan Love, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft, and Josh Jacobs did not see the field at the same time even once together in 2025. Defensively, Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt were lost to season-ending injuries.
Parsons is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2026 season. In his absence, there is concern that the Packers defense will struggle to rush the passer, just as they did without him when he tore his ACL last year. Love, though, thinks Lukas Van Ness will be able to shoulder the load.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love praises Lukas Van Ness
Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness (90) Celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.Green Bay defeated Cincinnati 27-18.
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Van Ness, Green Bay’s first round pick in 2023, has just 8.5 sacks in his three-year NFL career. A combination of injuries and lack of substantial playing time have led to these low totals, but the Packers obviously see something in him because they recently decided to pick up his fifth-year option for 2027.
Love sees something too, telling Matt Schneidman of The Athletic:
“Van Ness was flying around, man. I think the biggest thing with him is his get-off. He was getting off the rock today, and he’s got that speed that puts tackles in a bind. They gotta make sure they’re getting off at the same time as him. If not, he’s going to beat you around that corner.
“I’m excited about him. I’m excited for him and what’s going to come this season. He’s in a great spot. He puts the work in, and he’s a guy that he’s always making practice hard on us.”
With Parsons likely out until Week Five or after, Green Bay is going to need Van Ness to step up in a big way. Despite only having three years of NFL experience, he is the elder statesman among the pass rushers (sans Parsons, of course) and will need to lead that group both on and off the field.
Clearly, the organization and his quarterback have faith that he can be something special in the league. It will be up to him to prove them right.
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