GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-8)
OPEN CAMP: July 21, Green Bay, Wisc.
LAST YEAR: Apoplectic would describe the fan base of the Packers in the early part of last season as doubts about Jordan Love being an adequate heir to Aaron Rodgers ran rampant. Then he settled in and guided Green Bay back to the playoffs, getting a ninth regular-season win over the Chicago Bears in January to snag a wild-card spot. His receiving corps looked more than capable and occasionally lethal, but defensive shortcomings and breakdowns in the secondary forced head coach Matt LaFleur to hit reset on that side of the ball.
KEY ADDITIONS: S Javon Bullard, LB Edgerrin Cooper, OT Andre Dillard, LB Ty’Ron Hopper, RB Josh Jacobs, RB MarShawn Lloyd, S Xavier McKinney, S Evan Williams
KEY LOSSES: OT David Bakhtiari, LB De’Vondre Campbell, RB Aaron Jones, S Jonathan Owens, OG Jon Runyan, S Darnell Savage
CAMP CHECKLIST: Before packing their bags for the unique opener — Friday, Sept. 5, in Brazil against the Philadelphia Eagles — the focus for the Packers surrounds all of the defensive changes. That includes replacing Joe Barry with new boss Jeff Hafley and figuring out the best combination in the secondary beyond CB Jaire Alexander and free-agent pickup McKinney. Nailing down the kicker role is an essential task that often flies under the radar but not so this year with Greg Joseph brought in to compete with Anders Carlson, who missed five extra points as a rookie. Behind free-agent addition Jacobs, the Packers appear to be fully loaded at running back, drafting Lloyd in the third round and re-signing AJ Dillon.
2024 EXPECTATIONS: Last season, a playoff appearance was in doubt until the final week of the regular season. Green Bay steamrolled the Cowboys in Dallas for a wild-card win and gave the 49ers a stern test until late in the divisional round. Getting back won’t be easy. Schedule-wise, the Packers are the darlings of primetime with five total appearances and four consecutive weeks with anchor spotlight games. Love played the second half of last season like one of the best quarterbacks in the league, justification for the selection of Love in the first round and the trade of Aaron Rodgers to the Jets. Further growth from Love could come as he gets on the same page with Jacobs and an offensive line that added first-round draft pick Jordan Morgan.
PRESEASON SCHEDULE:
at Cleveland Browns, 4:25 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 10
at Denver Broncos, 8 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 18
vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 24
–Field Level Media