The Green Bay Packers didn't add a veteran pass rusher in the offseason even though they knew Micah Parsons wasn't going to be available for several games to start the season. One big reason the team's brass refrained from bringing in external help was that they were confident rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton and 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness were going to step up.
While defensive linemen Jonathan Ford and Anthony Campbell have registered four pressures each in the preseason, Nyjalik Kelly and Brenton Cox are the only two edge defenders who've racked up three or more total pressures. Meanwhile, Van Ness has only registered one pressure, and Dennis-Sutton has missed both preseason bouts.
The good news is that Dennis-Sutton is seemingly back in the fold and will have a golden opportunity in the finale to prove just how much Green Bay missed him.
The Packers haven't been able to create pressure in the preseason
Although Dennis-Sutton was dressed and even warmed up for the preseason game against the Denver Broncos, he ultimately didn't play. However, the rookie pass rusher is seemingly on track to play this week against the Arizona Cardinals.
If that's the case, Dennis-Sutton will have a prime opportunity to show he deserves a role in the rotation. Heck, he even earned a comparison to star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
But leaving aside the lofty comparison, Dennis-Sutton has intriguing upside, which is why it wouldn't be shocking to see the Packers give him as many chances as possible to earn a significant role in his rookie season.
Keep in mind that before the former Penn State Nittany Lion missed time, he flashed his pass-rush capabilities in the offseason program. Based on the dearth of pressure from their other non-Micah Parsons pass rushers, the Packers could certainly use Dennis-Sutton. He'll need to pick up where he left off in the preseason against the Cardinals (if he plays).
What should the Packers expect from Dani Dennis-Sutton
The Cardinals game will be the last time Dennis-Sutton gets meaningful playing time before Green Bay faces the Minnesota Vikings in the season opener. If he makes a strong impression, he could be the No. 3 or 4 pass rusher in a rotation that includes Van Ness, Brenton Cox Jr., and Barryn Sorrell.
And if he makes an impact early on, he could work his way up the depth chart and carve out a role even when Parsons gets back.
Having said that, there's also a chance Dennis-Sutton will show that he still has a long way to go and needs to continue honing his skills before he can contribute. Then again, he's shown enough upside to make you think he'll indeed make an impact as a rookie.
Of course, the Packers cannot solely depend on Dennis-Sutton to get after the quarterback, but he can help hold the fort while Parsons continues to recover from the ACL injury he sustained in 2025.
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