Week 1 has become a lot harder for the Packers
Green Bay Packers fans already had to be nervous going into the 2023 NFL season. They are coming off of an offseason where they lost their long time franchise QB in Aaron Rodgers. They also lost safety Adrian Amos, defensive lineman Jarran Reed, and wide receiver Allen Lazard – among others. Their idea of replacing […]
Green Bay Packers fans already had to be nervous going into the 2023 NFL season.
They are coming off of an offseason where they lost their long time franchise QB in Aaron Rodgers. They also lost safety Adrian Amos, defensive lineman Jarran Reed, and wide receiver Allen Lazard – among others.
Their idea of replacing them relies on a lot of unknowns.
Jordan Love, although a veteran has not made more than 100 career NFL throws. Their replacement of Lazard relies on second-year players Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and a blend of three rookies in Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. Jarran Reed is being replaced by second-year player Devonte Wyatt as well as rookies Lukas Van Ness and Karl Brooks seeing rotation snaps.
To add even more pressure to Jordan Love, the NFL scheduled the Packers to play against the Chicago Bears in week one.
Now the Packers have had the upper hand in the series , they have played 206 times. The Packers have won 105 games, opposed to Chicago's 95; with 6 ties. The Packers have not lost since 2018, but the Bears have reasons to be excited.
Justin Fields looked promising in year one, they recently made a big time trade to get DJ Moore from the Panthers, and most recently they beefed up their defensive line.
They added former Indianapolis Colt, and NFL journey man Yannick Ngakoue to the mix recently.
Ngakoue has been one of the more consistent players when it comes to getting to the quarterback since 2016.
This will surely help a Chicago defense that finished in dead last in the NFL last year in terms of sacks, with 20.
Yannick specifically lined up at right defensive end for the Colts last year 669 times. If he stays at right end for Chicago that means he would face off against left tackle, David Bakhtiari; which will certainly help ease Love's and Packers' fans minds, alike.
Bakhtiari is the healthiest he's been in years, but even then, the Packers are regimenting his practice schedule in order to keep him healthy. At this point, it's a mistake to fully rely on his health. Fortunately, the team has solid swing tackle candidates in Yosh Nijman and even Zach Tom.
But, still, going up against one of the NFL's best pass rushers is never fun, nor easy. And the Packers will certainly have their hands full on Opening Day.
© Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK
