5 biggest surprise players for the Packers in 2023 season

There have been some serious ups and downs so far this season for the Green Bay Packers. It's certainly a new look Green Bay team compared to what we've seen in years past with a youth movement making its way in and laying its roots.

With such a young group, there are bound to be players who don't live up to expectations but some who exceed them. And with injuries to key players like Aaron Jones, Jaire Alexander, and David Bakhtiari, unlikely names have been called upon and given an opportunity they otherwise would not have had.

Some of these players have gone on to prove they deserve more opportunities to see the field or truly belong where they're at.

Which 5 players have surprisingly stepped up for Packers?

1. Rudy Ford

This season, Ford has been used more than ever before. As someone who has been on four teams within their first six years, not many thought he'd play a key role for the defense. In 2023, he's been a top coverage safety in the league.

According to Pro Football Reference, Ford has allowed a passer rating of just 65.0 in his coverage, giving up 17 completions on 28 passes for 203 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Ford has fallen out of a starting role within the defense with Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens healthy, but he's proven to be a great third option.

2. Zach Tom

Tom has always been a consistent good pass blocker. According to ESPN, Tom has a pass block win rate of 91 percent. He has also massively improved as a run blocker. Tom has solidified himself as the starting right tackle for the Packers of the future.

In the most recent game against the Minnesota Vikings, he truly shined, allowing just one pressure when seeing a high number of snaps blocking Danielle Hunter. To see this much improvement from such a young player is not only rare to see but extremely encouraging.

3. Devonte Wyatt

As a first-round pick just last year, you want to see an immediate impact, and Wyatt has quietly done that. He still has much to improve when defending the run, but he has been a top pass rusher.

This season, Wyatt has 4.5 sacks, 14 pressures, and 10 QB hits as an interior rusher. His performances show he is one of the most effective pass rushers on the entire team. With the Packers tending to draft defensive players that take time to develop, he's shown promising signs of improvement.

4. Jayden Reed

Every wide receiver on the 53-man roster is either a rookie or in their second year. Obviously, a young player had to be the best in the group, but it was hard to imagine Reed would play at such a high level as a rookie.

He beat the Packers' rookie reception record in the win over the Vikings, passing Sterling Sharpe's 55 during the 1988 season. Reed leads the team in receiving yards (681), touchdowns (8), and receptions (60).

He is amazing as a pass catcher and versatile with running the ball. He has two rushing touchdowns while averaging 10.8 yards a carry.

5. Jordan Love

Expectations were as high as ever for any quarterback entering a season after the Packers put him behind the wheel. Packers fans and the media were torn on whether it was the right decision to move on from Aaron Rodgers, but Love has proven it was.

The first eight weeks were shaky, but he has been lights out since then. Over his last six starts, he's thrown 16 touchdowns and one interception. Entering Week 18, he ranks third in the NFL for passing touchdowns (30), two behind league leader Dak Prescott.

Love has shown he is a franchise quarterback with 3,843 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

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