The Green Bay Packers have questions at No. 2 quarterback after losing standout Malik Willis in free agency.
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Green Bay was arguably the most disappointing team in football in 2025. And perhaps no coach did less with more than Packers’ boss Matt LaFleur.
Green Bay headed into the season with one of the NFL’s top rosters, traded for star defensive end Micah Parsons 10 days before the year began and had the second-best odds to win the NFC. Suddenly, Packer Nation was dreaming of their first Super Bowl appearance since 2010.
Instead, Green Bay went a remarkably unsatisfying 9-8-1 overall and were the NFC’s No. 7 seed for a third consecutive year. The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.
“No way you should lose games in this league when you’re up that much,” Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs said.
Green Bay, which began the year 9-3-1, finished the season with five straight losses. The Packers will now enter 2026 with the league’s fourth-longest losing streak. Green Bay also hasn’t won the NFC North since 2021, the longest drought in the division.
Collapsing late in games was the story of Green Bay’s 2025 campaign.
Green Bay had double digit leads in the final minutes twice against Chicago and also vs. Cleveland and somehow went 0-3 in those games. The Packers’ odds of losing all three contests were 1-in-250,000, yet they somehow did it.
“That (expletive), it’s starting to get damn-near embarrassing,” safety Javon Bullard said.
Rebounding won’t be easy as Green Bay was hit hard in free agency and didn’t have a first round draft pick. That means there are areas where the Packers seem destined to be worse in 2026.
Here’s a look at the spots Green Bay could slip this season.
Green Bay starter Jordan Love has missed time each of the last two seasons. The Packers were extremely fortunate, though, to have the NFL’s top backup in Malik Willis.
Willis, who signed in free agency with Miami this offseason, went 2-0 as a starter in 2024. He also led the Packers on a game-winning drive in the final seconds to beat Jacksonville that season.
In 2025, Willis was terrific in two starts and finished the year with a 145.5 passer rating.
Right now, the top candidate to back up starter Jordan Love is Desmond Ridder (16 career TDs, 14 interceptions, 82.6 passer rating). Kyle McCord, who spent last season on Philadelphia’s practice squad and has never thrown an NFL pass, is also on the roster.
“Yeah, I think we all know how we felt about Malik and his ability to go out there and give us a chance to go win games, and he did exactly that,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “So I think it’s a work in progress.”
Josh Jacobs is 28 years old and has 1,840 career carries. He was beat up the second half of 2025, and at this stage of his career, he seems unlikely to log 300-plus carries like he did in 2022 and 2024.
Emanuel Wilson was a solid No. 2 the last two seasons, but left for Seattle in free agency. Wilson ran for 998 yards, averaged 4.4 yards per carry and had eight total touchdowns the last two years.
Green Bay’s running back room includes Chris Brooks, who is more of a pass protecting fullback, and fragile Marshawn Lloyd, who has played in just one game and a total of 10 snaps in two seasons.
Chances are the Packers will still add a running back, although general manager Brian Gutekunst put on a brave face after ignoring the position in last week’s NFL Draft.
“I feel very good about that group,” Gutekunst said. “We'll see as it goes. If we feel we need to add to it, we will. But right now, I don't really think we need to.”
Green Bay had one of the deeper teams in football last season, but the Packers were picked apart this offseason.
Green Bay lost quarterback Malik Willis, wideout Romeo Doubs, linebacker Quay Walker, left tackle Rasheed Walker, defensive end Kingsley Enagbare and running back Emanuel Wilson in free agency. The Packers also traded defensive linemen Rashan Gary and Colby Wooden, and wideout Dontayvion Wicks.
Green Bay’s free agent signings were minimal, highlighted by the additions of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste. The Packers then added just six draft picks, tied for the fewest in franchise history.
While Gutekunst stressed repeatedly he still loves the Packers’ depth, they seem extremely thin at tight end, running back and on the offensive line.
“I do like our team. I like our depth,” Gutekunst said. “I like our roster. I do think that we’ve got a tough team to make.”
Not everyone shares that opinion. We’ll find out in September if Gutekunst is right.
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