How the Green Bay Packers will navigate Micah Parsons' early-season absence remains a question, but Barryn Sorrell is doing his part to put such concerns at ease. The sophomore edge rusher has backed up offseason excitement with a strong training camp. As the season creeps closer, he's only gaining momentum.
Sorrell garnered attention last week in practice for an impressive pick-six in which, according to head coach Matt LaFleur, he was clocked at 20 miles per hour. For a guy listed at 6-foot-3 and 256 pounds, Sorrell has wheels. He's more monster truck than hot car.
Sorrell followed up with a dominant showing at Packers Family Night last Friday, bursting into the backfield on several occasions. For a defense still searching for a second Week 1 starter off the edge alongside Lukas Van Ness, the former Texas Longhorn looks ready to seize the moment.
Barryn Sorrell continues case as Packers' No. 2 edge rusher
It's not as if Sorrell has just recently stepped into the spotlight with a few splash plays. Packers fans have eyed him hopefully as a potential second starter for a while, more and more so as it became clear that Green Bay had no plans to invest in a veteran edge rusher via trade or free agency.
Last month, LaFleur praised Sorrell for his "A-plus approach." That sound foundation is producing noteworthy results.
The 2025 fourth-rounder showed flashes as a rookie, although he only played 178 defensive snaps and did not carve out a regular role. Sorrell did notch his first full sack in his only start, in Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings, along with eight tackles and a fumble recovery.
His stock has ticked up ever since, beginning with his offseason training and continuing all through camp. He still has work to do, of course, if he's going to beat out veteran reserve Brenton Cox Jr., fellow NFL sophomore Collin Oliver, and rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton.
In the end, the Packers may adopt a by-committee approach, rotating in different players without establishing a primary second starter.
If there is a leading candidate to earn that label, though, Sorrell is staking a strong claim with a month to go until Green Bay's Week 1 trip to Minnesota. That's saying something given the promise in the Packers' group of young edge rushers.
The fact that Sorrell is standing out among them is a good sign for fans still anxious, understandably, over whether anyone will emerge as a capable No. 2 starter to hold the defense over until Parsons returns.
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