When the Green Bay Packers selected Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they knew he would need some time before earning a full-time role on defense. The Iowa alum had outstanding athletic traits but needed to improve his technique and to develop more moves to compete at the highest level. After two relatively quiet seasons in a part-time role, Van Ness appears to be ready to take a big step forward in 2025, his third season in the NFL.
The man they call “Hercules” recorded four sacks in his rookie season while playing just 33 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. In 2024, Van Ness played 39 percent of the defensive snaps but added just three sacks. A broken thumb limited his ability to use one hand for the first 11 games of the season. Still, the season was a bit of a disappointment for Van Ness despite the fact that he improved against the run.
Van Ness has had a strong training camp thus far with the Packers. He has been with the first-string defense since day one. That is a big accomplishment considering Van Ness hasn’t started a competitive football game since high school.
Throughout training camp, Van Ness has been making plays and getting himself into the backfield to pressure quarterbacks and disrupt running plays.
At the team’s joint practice with the Colts on Thursday, Van Ness was credited with two “sacks,” even though tackling the quarterback wasn’t officially allowed.
According to Van Ness, things seem to be clearer for him this season. He isn’t thinking, he’s reacting as the defense has become second nature. Keep in mind this is the first time in his three years with the Packers that he hasn’t had to learn a new defense.
“I think the ability has always been there,” Van Ness said. “At times, like Matt [LaFleur] said, I'm a perfectionist and wanted to do the right thing all the time. But this is the game of football, and it's an imperfect game. Sometimes you’ve got to make the wrong play to go make a play. Not overthink. I think I've opened up my mind to that. It's worked out well so far.”
Part of the improvement for Van Ness seems to come from new defensive line coach, DeMarcus Covington. The Packers hired him because they were concerned about a lack of progress from Van Ness and the other young Packers defensive linemen under his predecessor, Jason Rebrovich. Covington has been able to help with many of the technical aspects of the position.
GM Brian Gutekunst addressed the issue on Tuesday, praising both Van Ness and Covington. “He continues to stack days, and he's productive and he's been really, really consistent,” Gutekunst told reporters. “I'm excited for what he's going to bring to us this year. I think it's just a natural growth from him. You guys have all followed, the amount of reps he had in college coming into this league. I just think DeMarcus [Covington] has done a fabulous job with that entire group, and I like the way they are playing. Excited for what he's going to do for us this year.”
The Packers didn’t address the defensive line in the first three rounds of this year’s draft and didn’t sign any major free agents at the position over the offseason. In essence, Gutekunst and the coaching staff expressed confidence in Van Ness and the other players on the roster and in Covington’s ability to get the most out of them. If he is successful, the Packers could generate more pressure from their front four in 2025 and not have to rely on blitzes, stunts and deception to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Van Ness seems enthused about the coming season and is demonstrating more confidence than ever. “I think just using my bigger body, my get off, my speed,” Van Ness said. “I think I have all the tools, it's just putting it all together, continuing to develop. There's a long way to go, but I'm happy with the progression so far.”
If he can put it all together, the Packers could have a formidable starting duo with Van Ness and Rashan Gary and a solid rotation with Brenton Cox, Kingsley Enagbare, and rookie Barryn Sorrell. But getting a breakout season from Van Ness would be key to achieving that goal. It’s still early, but “Hercules” seems ready for a coming out party in 2025.