Green Bay Packers: 3 x-factors for Week 1 matchup vs Minnesota Vikings
· Yahoo Sports
The Green Bay Packers have finally accomplished all of their offseason goals. On Saturday morning, it was reported that they had agreed to a four-year contract extension with star tight end Tucker Kraft. They now have agreed to extensions with their three most important pass catchers, with Jayden Reed and Christian Watson agreeing to terms on new contracts earlier this year.
This being said, as Green Bay prepares to face off against the Minnesota Vikings in Week One, the x-factors that must come through in order for them to win the game are not among them. While it will be important that Jordan Love‘s three best pass catchers play well, it is relatively accepted that they will.
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Additionally, the following three players also need to show up and have solid games to set the tone for the 2026 season.
Edge rusher Lukas Van Ness
Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness (90) Celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.Green Bay defeated Cincinnati 27-18.Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
With All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons out for at least the first four games of the season, Green Bay needs to find a way to consistently rush the passer. They will have their work cut out for them as they face the elusive Kyler Murray, who was named the Vikings starting quarterback over backup Carson Wentz and third-stringer JJ McCarthy.
With this in mind, the onus will be on the rest of the Packers’ edge rushers to perform. This is true for everyone, of course, but perhaps none more so that Lukas Van Ness, a former first round pick who has yet to realize the potential Green Bay saw in him when they took him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Last season, he had 1.5 sacks in nine games, and has just 8.5 sacks over his first three seasons. The Packers have already picked up his fifth-year option, which means he is tied to the team through 2027. He will have to perform well often this year, especially without Parsons, to ensure that decision was not a mistake.
Cornerback Brandon Cisse
Even though the Vikings do not have a sure answer at the quarterback position (Murray has a great deal to prove), they still boast one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Clearly, these two pass catchers alone do not guarantee success for Minnesota. After all, they only won nine games last season despite having both.
That being said, Brandon Cisse has quickly emerged as one of Green Bay’s starting cornerbacks, and he will be tested early and often as the Vikings attempt to rudely welcome the rookie to the NFL. If he can hold his own against some of the league’s best receivers, it will go a long way to helping the Packers win.
Running back Pierre Strong
This may be a bit of a reach as Pierre Strong is not even on the active roster right now. Signed to the practice squad after a strong preseason, though, there is reason to believe he will be active for Week One.
With Josh Jacobs on the commissioners’ exempt list, and with backup Kaleb Johnson still getting acclimated following his trade to Green Bay, it would make sense that Strong would be elevated from the practice squad to back up Marshawn Lloyd.
While Lloyd appears healthy and ready to take over as the starting running back, it is also assumed that the Packers will not overload him with more than 15-20 carries in what will be his first career NFL start. Based on this assumption, Strong being elevated and playing well will be vital in the offense having a well-balanced attack against a threatening Vikings defense.
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