Stock up, stock down for Packers after Week 1 loss to Vikings

Stock up: Quay Walker

First-round pick Quay Walker left the game early due to a shoulder injury, but he impressed while he was on the field. Walker made plays all over the field and finished with eight tackles, including seven solo tackles.

Walker looked like a first-round pick. He reacted quickly and showed off his speed and athleticism. He also tackled well.

The Packers have to be impressed with what they’ve seen from Walker not just in this game, but also during the summer.

Hopefully his shoulder injury isn’t anything too serious. This will be something to watch closely in the coming days.

Stock down: Run defense

We’ve talked up Green Bay’s defense all offseason. While it was hardly a disastrous performance as they only allowed 23 points, it was nowhere near good enough.

The Vikings ran the ball with ease at times. They put up 126 rushing yards from 28 attempts, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

Minnesota has one of the best running backs in the NFL in Dalvin Cook, so it certainly wasn’t an easy matchup. But the Packers need to be better up front against the run.

If Joe Barry’s defense is to be considered one of the top units in the NFL, they need to shut down the run. It was all too easy for the Vikings on Sunday.