We're somehow barely a week away from the Green Bay Packers' season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 13, after an action-packed training camp and entertaining preseason.
The roster cutdowns brought plenty of surprises, including some under-the-radar additions. There's a lot to like about this group, but several pressing uncertainties remain. Many are essentially the same ones that defined the team before the summer.
With that, here are some big questions to ponder as kickoff ticks closer.
Five big questions the Packers will begin to answer in the season opener
Which Trey Smack shows up?
We're all waiting on this one. Smack was a perfect 9-for-9 on field goals in the preseason, showing off impressive range with multiple makes of nearly 60 yards. In practice, though, he's still somewhat hit-or-miss. Hitting 37-yard field goals should be a given, but that hasn't always been the case.
Will the pressure get to him in his first real game, or will Smack just raise his game with the stakes? One game won't tell us everything, but we'll overreact either way. Of course we will.
Will the new-look offensive line hold up?
The Packers have reshuffled the starting five to an almost unrecognizable degree. Sean Rhyan is your starting center, Jacob Monk is at right guard, and Jordan Morgan will play left tackle. Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele remain entrenched at left guard and right tackle, respectively.
Bako-Bewele's health remains one of the unit's bigger question marks. Still recovering from last season's knee injury, he didn't reassure fans as hoped when asked about his Week 1 status. He expects to be ready, but he may be significantly less than 100 percent.
Packers fans also want to see what Monk looks like as a starter. On the other hand, many would rather not see him starting at all. Monk was the surprise winner of a right guard competition with rookie Jager Burton.
Suffice to say he was not a universally popular choice. Not long ago, it seemed like Monk wouldn't even make the team. With an underwhelming career sample of 57 offensive snaps, he is easily the biggest question in the group.
Who gets the most time at running back?
This is essentially a question of how the Packers split reps between MarShawn Lloyd and newcomer Kaleb Johnson, acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers. RB3 Chris Brooks will contribute in pass-blocking scenarios and as a receiver out of the backfield.
Finally healthy, Lloyd is justifying the hype. But while the 2024 third-round pick offers the most upside of the bunch, the Packers might want to ease him into a regular role. That could result in more early-season carries for Johnson, an under-the-radar addition who was underutilized in Pittsburgh.
In Week 1, the Packers could deploy a roughly even split between the two or even favor Johnson as the nominal lead back.
Footnote: Green Bay could have clarity on Josh Jacobs sooner than expected, though not necessarily by Week 1. Jacobs' initial court appearance has been moved from November to September 10, per Michael Gross of WLUK-TV FOX 11. He is currently on the NFL's commissioner exempt list, which means he receives his salary but can't play.
Can the Packers create pressure off the edge without Micah Parsons?
Without Micah Parsons (or Collin Oliver), the Packers will rely on a four-man crew of Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox Jr., and Dani Dennis-Sutton. Sorrell will likely start alongside Van Ness, but expect the second starting spot to be more of a by-committee gig.
One of the more exciting questions is how much Dennis-Sutton we'll get to see in Week 1. It might not be much, as he continues working off his rookie water wings, but Packers fans will be eager to glimpse the promising fourth-rounder.
Does Brandon Cisse have serviceable help at cornerback?
Let's assume the starters are Cisse and Keisean Nixon. Cisse will have his work cut out for him as a rookie at a difficult position, but the Packers have seen enough to know that he is part of the future, if not already the most talented member of the room.
The bigger question is whether Nixon is the answer at the other starting spot. Nixon rebounded somewhat after a disastrous start to training camp and preseason, but Green Bay fans are well acquainted with his shortcomings and inconsistencies.
Nixon and Cisse will face a tough task covering Vikings receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on the outside. If Nixon isn't up to it, he could be badly exposed.
A related question is whether the Packers will already treat Cisse as the clear CB1 by assigning him to Jefferson, one of the best receivers in the league. If Cisse is the main one covering him, we'll have our answer.
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