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.
“That’s one of the best teams in the National Football League,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. “They’ve got a ton of players really in every phase. I thought all in all, it was a pretty good night.”
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 on a choice route and ran away from linebacker Dondrea Tillman.
“The drive we had tonight, you know, ended on a great note,” Love said. “That was a that was a good 12-play drive we put together. Guys executing on a lot of levels right there. So, you know, I think that’s a great note to end on.”
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.
“I thought he went out there and he competed and made a big play on that choice route and Jordan threw a great ball,” LaFleur said of Lloyd. “So it was a good night for him.”
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.
“It was special, it was fun,” Lloyd said. “It was definitely fun. Like you said, it had been three years since I even touched the end zone. I’ve been in the end zone in practice, but in the game it’s different. It was fun, you know. They had their starters out there, so it was fun to get those good reps, just good reps. I enjoyed it.”
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.
“I don’t know if there’s certainly a message that I can give to them,” Smack said when asked if he sent his teammates a message with his big night. “I’m just kind of trying to do my job, trying to live up to the expectation that they want me to.
“I’m very grateful that I’m here. I’m very grateful that I’m a Green Bay Packer. That never wants to change for me. I always want to be a Green Bay Packer, so whatever I can do—I’m not sure what that is—just make my kicks and honor that.”
Barring anything bizarre unfolding in the next few weeks, Smack will almost certainly be the Packers’ Week 1 kicker in Minnesota.
“He’s put two pretty darn good performances back to back, and so the talent’s there,” LaFleur said of Smack. “He’s just gott to continue to be consistent.”
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.
“I looked to the left, one ref was about to consider it a touchdown, and the other one was saying incomplete and then they saw it on the big board,” Sheppard said. “So it was just a good feeling though.”
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,” 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. “I remember on my first (return), I knew it was going to open up on the second one because we just missed one block,” Strong said. “So I knew once we made that one block, I was going to create something.”… 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. … Wideout 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.
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