The Green Bay Packers walked into the 2026 offseason with a clear message: one-and-done in the playoffs is not going to cut it. Especially not when the team that sent you home is a division rival you’re supposed to beat. But here’s the thing. The Packers might actually be worse on paper than they were a year ago.
That doesn’t mean it’s time to hit the panic button in Wisconsin. Jordan Love is still under center. Matt LaFleur is still calling the shots. There are playmakers scattered across the roster. But the margin for error is getting thinner, and the pressure to actually win a playoff game is real.
So which players are feeling that heat the most heading into training camp? Three names stand out.
Josh Jacobs Has a Lot Going on Right Now
Start with the running back. Jacobs is 28 years old, which in running back years is basically pushing 40. He carried the ball 234 times last season for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns. Solid numbers, but not the kind of production that makes you feel great about the future. The Packers are probably going to need more than that in 2026.
Then there’s the legal situation. Jacobs was arrested on domestic abuse charges back in May. The investigation is still open and no charges have been filed yet. That could change. And even if it doesn’t, the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy is always lurking. A suspension would be a nightmare for both Jacobs and a Green Bay offense that doesn’t have a ton of proven depth behind him.
On top of all that, there’s growing buzz around MarShawn Lloyd potentially breaking out. The deck is stacked against Jacobs, no way around it. But if he grinds through camp and stays focused, he could still put together a good season.
Christian Watson Is the Guy Now. No Excuses.
The Packers made their bet on Watson clear when they handed him a four-year, $110.5 million extension earlier this offseason. Then they traded Dontayvion Wicks and let Romeo Doubs walk in free agency. The message was unmistakable: this is your offense now.
Watson, Matthew Golden, and Jayden Reed are projected as the starting wide receivers, with very little proven depth behind them. That means Watson is going to see way more than the 55 targets he got during his rookie year, which remains his most productive season statistically. He had 41 catches for 611 yards and seven touchdowns that year. He’ll need to double those numbers to justify that contract.
If Watson doesn’t work out, the entire offense could crater. That’s not hyperbole. The organization is betting big on him, and everyone from the front office to the coaching staff is watching to see if he can handle the load.
A Rookie Edge Rusher Might Have to Save the Pass Rush
Dani Dennis-Sutton out of Penn State was a fourth-round pick. Typically that means you get some time to develop. But the Packers don’t have that luxury right now.
Micah Parsons tore his ACL late in the 2025 season and will miss at least the first few weeks of 2026. On top of that, Green Bay traded Rashan Gary to Dallas back in March. So the depth chart at edge rusher is suddenly looking thin. Lukas Van Ness is on one side. The other side is wide open.
Brenton Cox Jr. and Barryn Sorrell are in the mix, but Dennis-Sutton probably has the best shot to win that starting job during camp. That’s a lot to ask of a rookie who hasn’t played a single NFL snap. The hope is he can adjust quickly and make an impact early. But there’s no guarantee.
The young pass rusher will need to surprise some people this fall. Packers fans are hoping he can deliver.
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