The Packers lost a pair of key players to injury last season, both of whom may have helped change the team’s ultimate outcome in 2025.
Tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a torn ACL in November, prematurely ending what was a breakout season. Then linebacker Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL in December, cutting off his strong first season with Green Bay.
But both should be back for the majority of 2026, according to General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
“They’re doing great,” Gutekunst said in a recent interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Tuck’s been in here every day, and he’s obviously a little bit ahead of schedule, just because his injury happened earlier than Micah’s did. But Micah’s such a — he’s a little bit of a freak. So I think some of that has taken over, and he’s doing really well, as well.
“So, certainly expect both of those guys back early in the season. And they’ll be a big part of what we’re doing moving forward.”
In eight games last year, Kraft caught 32 passes for 489 yards with six touchdowns.
Parsons tallied 12.5 sacks with 12 tackles for loss and 27 quarterback hits, earning AP first-team All-Pro honors for the third time, despite playing just 14 games.
The Packers broke with tradition by selecting wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 draft, but he entered a deep receiving corps that kept him from being a focal point of the team’s offensive attack.
Golden had 29 catches for 361 yards in the regular season, but provided a hint of what it might look like with him in that role by catching four passes for 84 yards and a touchdown in Green Bay’s playoff loss to the Bears. The stage is set for him to get more chances for those kinds of games in 2026.
Romeo Doubs left for the Patriots as a free agent and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to the Eagles, which opened up a lot of snaps for the coming season. In a Monday press conference, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich was asked what that will mean for Golden’s opportunity and production.
“I think all those are going to go up,” Stenavich said. “I’m excited about him, he’s looked great so far. It’s going to be a big year for him and I’m excited to watch it.”
Christian Watson and Jayden Reed are also set for prominent roles at receiver this year and the Packers will be hoping for a full return from injury for tight end Tucker Kraft, but Golden became their first first-round wideout since 2002 and the team will be looking for that bet to start really paying off this season.
The Packers’ move to sign Tyrod Taylor is going to cost another of the team’s quarterbacks his spot on the 90-man roster in Green Bay.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the team will be releasing Desmond Ridder. Ridder joined the team last December and did not play in any games.
Ridder’s departure will leave four quarterbacks on the roster. In addition to Taylor, they will have Jordan Love, Kyle McCord and rookie Kyron Drones.
Ridder spent time with the Bengals and Vikings last year before finishing out the year with the Packers. His last regular season action came in six appearances for the Raiders in 2024 and the 2022 third-round pick made 17 starts for the Falcons in his first two NFL seasons.
Ridder is 322-of-503 for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over all of his NFL action.
With Malik Willis off to the Dolphins, the Packers have brought in a new veteran backup quarterback.
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Green Bay is signing quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Taylor, 36, spent the last two seasons with the Jets. He appeared in six games with four starts in 2025, completing 59.7 percent of his passes for 779 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 143 yards with one TD.
Green Bay’s backup position has been important over the last two years, with starter Jordan Love missing a pair of starts in each 2024 and 2025. Taylor fits the bill of an experienced backup, having appeared in 100 games with 62 starts since entering the league as a sixth-round picking 2011.
Taylor’s signing presumably puts five quarterbacks on Green Bay’s roster, pending any other moves. Aside from Love and Taylor, the club has Desmond Ridder, Kyle McCord, and Kyron Drones.
The Packers kicked off their rookie minicamp by signing most of their draft picks.
They announced that they have signed five of their six selections. Third-round defensive tackle Chris McClellan, fourth-round edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, fifth-round offensive lineman Jager Burton, sixth-round cornerback Domani Jackson, and sixth-round kicker Trey Smack. All five players agreed to four-year deals with the team.
Second-round cornerback Brandon Cisse is the only unsigned member of the Green Bay draft class.
The Packers also signed 10 undrafted free agents. They are Iowa State guard Dylan Barrett, Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones, Illinois guard Josh Gesky, UCF edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly, Nevada safety Murvin Kenion, SMU tight end RJ Maryland, UCF running back Jaden Nixon, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn, Florida wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, and Auburn guard Dillon Wade.
