10 instant reactions to Packers' stunning preseason win over Cardinals

The Green Bay Packers hosted the Arizona Cardinals for their preseason finale on Friday night in a battle of sibling head coaches in Matt and Mike LaFleur. The latter has his work cut out to overhaul the Cardinals into a winner, which presented a great opportunity for Green Bay's backups to strut their stuff.

While there were encouraging signs from the Packers' offense and a notable highlight from one of their rookie defenders, not everything was rosy for the home team at Lambeau Field. We can't be naïve and not acknowledge some of the issues on the back end of this roster.

But hey, Week 1 is on deck, so let's maintain some positive in Titletown as the preseason comes to a merciful end, shall we? Especially after a 42-38 victory that was thrilling by preseason standards but perhaps more discouraging than your standard friendly (still in World Cup mode, apologies).

Immediate impressions from Packers' polarized performance in preseason finale

1. Dani Dennis-Sutton looks like a necessarily-capitalized Dude. Needle drop Kel Mitchell for me! After missing the first two exhibition games, the rookie out of Penn State's elite athleticism was on full display when he smoked Cardinals right tackle on an inside move and slung down Gardner Minshew for a sack. An eruption that was lovely to see — and suggestive that Dennis-Sutton could be a contributor as a rookie.

2. Kyle McCord is making a legitimate case to be the Packers' No. 2 quarterback. He missed on his first three attempts, but the streaky passer caught fire by hitting seven straight throws, including a 36-yard touchdown pass to J. Michael Sturdivant. Tyrod Taylor is "mid" by backup standards. The QB depth chart behind Jordan Love is unsettled (and unsettling!), but McCord may be the lesser evil compared to Taylor. McCord's first of two TD strikes to Kisean Johnson was pretty nasty, and what a finish to capitalize on that Big Man INT by Arron Mosby off Kedon Slovis. Four TD passes from McCord. Who would've thought? Not me!

3. Cornerback depth persists as a major red flag. Minshew was just slicing and dicing up this Green Bay secondary. Domani Jackson had a bullseye on his back, low-lighted by a 41-yard touchdown strike from Minshew to Simi Fehoko where Jackson got burnt like overdone toast. Good thing Jackson went undrafted! Oh wait. Right. Sixth round. Oof. I mean, y'all see how many points the Cardinals of all teams just put up. They aren't exactly the Greatest Show on Turf.

4. A defensive line-boosting trade is probably necessary. It's just not the one people have been buzzing about lately. Would I argue or be ripped up about Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon reuniting with Cardinals star EDGE Josh Sweat? No. But defensive tackle is far more concerning. Micah Parsons will be back eventually. Shelling out big money and trade compensation for Sweat is a luxury play.

5. What's going on with the run defense? Defensive tackle is the far bigger concern than the Packers' depth on the edge of the trenches. Other than rookie Chris McClellan, who can Green Bay rely on? Javon Hargrave was on the PUP list earlier in camp. They could really use another space-eating, run defending specialist. That's the trade to go for. The Cardinals gashed the Cheeseheads for 115 yards on their first 13 rush attempts. I'd be less concerned if Arizona's offensive game-planner wasn't the literal brother of Matt LaFleur and didn't have such an inferior roster to work with, ya dig?

6. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst really cooked with this wide receiver depth chart. Will Sheppard was an undrafted free agent last year, and he looks like someone who could make the 53-man roster. Sheppard had six catches for 47 yards and a TD against the Broncos last week and found the end zone again on a 12-yard hookup with McCord. Not to downplay J. Michael's 100-plus yards receiving on the night, but...

7. Will Sheppard's impact wasn't limited to offense. He tossed in an 81-yard punt return TD for good measure. Between Savion Wiliams' injury and the generally underwhelming arc of assumed starting return man Skyy Moore's NFL career, Sheppard's roster stock is through the freaking roof.

8. Confirmed: Trey Smack got all his bad kicks out of the way early. The rookie placekicker just continues to impress. He knocked a pair of mid-to-late 30-yard field goals through the uprights versus Arizona, and converted all four of his PATs. It's always bold to draft a kicker if you ask me, but Smack keeps proving he was worth the sixth-round investment by Gutey.

9. Jager Burton looks like yet another draft steal for Green Bay. Live PFF grades had him with an 81.3 pass blocking grade on 16 reps. McCord was dropping back all night, and Burton was a stalwart in charge of the trenches. If not for Sean Rhyan's contract extension this offseason and Burton's fifth-round draft status, the latter would start in Week 1 on pure merit. Oh well. Burton had plenty of college experience at both guard spots. He could step in if Jacob Monk or Aaron Banks can't hack it. I wouldn't be surprised if that happened sometime this season.

10. The Cardinals game proves the Packers should be active on the post-cuts signing market. Burton's strong performance notwithstanding, Green Bay's interior o-line is a huge question mark. As is the running back room amid Josh Jacobs' legal situation. Again, I don't like the defensive tackle spot, despite the rising stocks of Jonathan Ford and Anthony Campbell. Gutey may be bringing in another body there, too.

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