The Green Bay Packers’ 2025 season went up in smoke during their Week 15 trip to Denver.
Star edge rusher Micah Parsons suffered a season-ending ACL tear that included meniscus damage. Green Bay blew a nine-point lead and eventually dropped a 34-26 decision.
And the Packers didn’t win again, losing their final five games and finishing a remarkably unfulfilling season 9-8-1.
Green Bay was back in Denver Friday for preseason game No. 2, and while few will remember this contest come January, things went much better.
The Packers’ No. 1 offense had a touchdown drive on their only series together, rookie kicker Trey Smack was sensational and Green Bay posted a 33-13 win.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly from that contest.
THE GOOD
GOOD FORTUNE: The Packers opened the game with a 12-play, 63-yard touchdown drive. They needed a break, though, to do it.
Green Bay wideout Christian Watson appeared to lose a fumble when Denver cornerback Pat Surtain stripped the ball loose. The Packers’ offense left the field, but came back after it was ruled that Watson was down before fumbling.
That gave the Packers new life, and they took advantage.
Jordan Love hit Matthew Golden for 20 yards on a fourth-and-1. MarShawn Lloyd had a first down run that he picked up by mere inches. Then Lloyd had an 11-yard touchdown reception when he came free over the middle and ran away from linebacker Dondrea Tillman.
SUMMER LOVING: Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love played one series, and chances are his preseason is now finished.
Love led the Packers on a touchdown drive, going 5-of-7 for 56 yards and a touchdown. If Love’s preseason is indeed done, he’ll finish 8-of-12 for 74 yards with one TD, one interception and a 111.11 passer rating.
Green Bay scored 10 points in the two possessions Love directed.
DIFFERENT GEAR: Green Bay hasn’t had a running back with juice since Aaron Jones left town after the 2023 season. If MarShawn Lloyd can stay healthy, he’ll change that.
On Lloyd’s 11-yard TD reception, he whipped linebacker Dondrea Tillman on a Texas route and came free across the middle.
Lloyd, of course, has played just one game — and 10 snaps — in his first two seasons due to injuries. Lloyd, a 2024 third round draft pick, has stayed healthy this summer, though, and is showing why he was the fourth running back drafted that year.
“Whenever you see guys go through things and then get back out there, you can kind of see the joy in them,” Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Lloyd. “And I’m happy for him. He’s doing a great job with his opportunities. I think he’s got a chance to help us this year, which would be great.”
SMACK ATTACK: Green Bay rookie kicker Trey Smack has been rocky on the practice field all summer. He’s been a different guy in games, though.
Smack made all four of his field goals attempts, converting from 59, 51, 43 and 38 yards. Smack also went 3-for-3 on field goals in the Packers’ preseason opener at Pittsburgh, making kicks from 58, 38 and 37 yards.
Smack also made another 58-yarder in the first preseason game that the Packers took off the board following a Pittsburgh penalty.
Smack is 7-of-7 on field goals this preseason, with three of those coming from beyond 50 yards. Barring anything bizarre unfolding in the next week, Smack will almost certainly be the Packers’ Week 1 kicker in Minnesota.
“That’s just kind of my job,” Smack said. “I’ve got to make kicks, so I’ve got to treat it like that’s my job, and I’ve got to keep going with that. Build on the confidence part. That’s what I’m supposed to do. That’s why I’m here. So that’s kind of the way I view it.”
WHERE THERE’S A WILL: Green Bay’s Will Sheppard, battling for one of the final wide receiver jobs, helped his cause Friday.
Sheppard made a sensational, 2-yard touchdown grab in the left corner of the endzone. Sheppard snagged Tyrod Taylor’s pass, then narrowly got both feet down before going out of bounds.
Sheppard finished his big night with six catches for 47 yards.
CORNER ROTATION: Rookie Brandon Cisse and Keisean Nixon were Green Bay’s starting corners. Cisse left after one series — indicating he’s a sure fire starter for Week 1 — and was replaced by Benjamin St-Juste.
Nixon and St-Juste then played together for a series.
Nixon and Carrington Valentine were Green Bay’s starters last season. Valentine went down early in camp with a hamstring injury, was replaced by Cisse and has been buried since. Nixon and St-Juste are battling for the other spot.
“I’m a big believer that competition will bring the best out of people,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. “I want everybody to play the chip on their shoulder. If they feel like they have something to prove, you’re probably going to get more out of them.”
THIS AND THAT: Green Bay safety Mark Perry had an interception late in the first half that led to a 43-yard Trey Smack field goal. … Running back Pierre Strong, battling for a roster spot, had a 68-yard kickoff return. … For better or for worse, the Packers’ No. 1 offensive line was (from left) Jordan Morgan, rookie Jager Burton, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk and Anthony Belton. … Kamal Hadden perfectly read a screen pass and dumped running back Jonah Coleman for a 2-yard loss. … Isaiah Neyor made a sensational 9-yard reception where he extended and made a finger tip grab. Neyor later had a 27-yard reception from No. 3 quarterback Kyle McCord. … Skyy Moore, brought in this offseason to help the return game, had a 30-yard kick return to open the game. … The Packrs scored on seven of their nine possessions.
THE BAD
MISSING IN ACTION: The Packers that didn’t suit up were edge rushers Micah Parsons and Dani Dennis-Sutton, wideout Jayden Reed, running back Josh Jacobs, safety Javon Bullard, cornerback Carrington Valentine, offensive linemen Aaron Banks, Zach Bako-Bewele and Darian Kinnard, tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, long snapper Matt Orzech, and defensive linemen Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave and Jordon Riley.
THIS AND THAT: Right guard Jacob Monk had a holding penalty on Green Bay’s opening possession. … Wideout Isaiah Neyor had a dropped pass. … Slot corner Kitan Oladapo was hit with a 12-yard pass interference penalty. … The Packers averaged a mediocre 3.7 yards per rush.
THE UGLY
DEFENSELESS: Denver marched 65 yards in six plays on its opening drive for a touchdown.
Running back RJ Harvey got matched up with linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and whipped him for a 21-yard TD reception from quarterback Bo Nix. Three plays earlier, Denver wideout Jaylen Waddle smoked Packers safety Xavier McKinney for 35 yards.
On both plays, Green Bay’s pressure was non-existent.
The Packers’ No. 1 defense has shined on the practice field most days this summer. It was a much different story against the Broncos, though.
When Week 1 at Minnesota arrives, Green Bay must find a way to generate pressure without star edge rusher Micah Parsons. That didn’t happen Friday and Denver took advantage.