Nazir Stackhouse was a force on the DL at Georgia (Photo: Joshua L. Jones, USA TODAY Sports)
By Mark Eckel
Chances are you're not going to see a lot of Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers starters on offense when the team opens the preseason Saturday night against the New York Jets. The same goes for Xavier McKinney and the Packers defense.
So what do you want to look for as the Packers take the field for the first time since last season's playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles?
Here are five players who you might want to focus on through the course of the game.
Isaiah Simmons — When the Packers signed the 2020 first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals late during free agency it looked like it was a move to bolster the team's special teams. Simmons graded out as the New York Giants best special teamer in 2024. Anything he added to the defense would be a bonus. Thus far in camp Simmons, who has been playing exclusively at outside linebacker, has shown some of what made the Cardinals take him in the first round. Now let's see if he can do it in live competition. If he can it could be a nice addition to Jeff Hafley's unit.
Nazir Stackhouse — It appears the Packers streak of keeping an undrafted rookie free agent on their original 53-man roster may continue with the big defensive tackle from Georgia. A bit of a surprise that Stackhouse didn't get selected, he's been everything the Packers hoped he would be in training camp. What that has been is the perfect replacement for departed free agent T.J. Slaton — a big run stuffer in the middle of the line. It will be interesting to see if what he did in college and what he's done in camp translates to the game.
Donovan Jennings — To be clear take a look at the offensive line and who lines up where from start to finish. Then take a closer look at Jennings, who spent last year on the Packers practice squad. Another undrafted free agent, out of South Florida, Jennings received a nice signing bonus in 2024 but an early injury ruined his chances of making the team. He's getting another chance this summer and he just may be ahead of Kadeem Telford for the final roster spot on the offensive line, especially now that Travis Glover is on injured reserve.
Omar Brown — He also spent most of last year on the practice squad, although he did a call-up for two games (Saints, Bears). The safety out of Nebraska has been making plays almost every day in camp and was the star of the Family Night practice with three interceptions. The safety position appeared set for the team, but if Brown plays as well in the preseason games as he has in practice it's going to make it tough on GM Brian Gutekunst.
Sean Clifford — You have to be a diehard to care about the No. 3 quarterback spot. But this battle between Clifford and Taylor Elgersma is going to be worth a watch. Remember Clifford was Jordan Love's No. 2 in 2023. Then fell off the charts with a bad preseason in 2024 that forced the team to trade for Malik Willis. His experience alone should give him the edge over the rookie from Canada. But let's watch and see.