Vanessa: Kyle McCord just threw four touchdown passes in the final preseason game, Will Sheppard is returning punts for scores, and Josh Jacobs? He’s officially out for Week 1. The Green Bay Packers are 2-1 in the preseason, but the real story isn't the record—it’s who is actually going to wear the green and gold when the Vikings arrive.
Nick: It’s a chaotic roster right now, Vanessa. We have injury lists full of names like Luke Musgrave and Collin Oliver on IR, Micah Parsons listed as Out—wait, that’s definitely a data error, Micah is a Cowboy—but the point stands. The depth chart is being rewritten in real-time, and we need to figure out who steps up.
Nick: We’ve got the quarterback controversy brewing between Jordan Love and Kyle McCord, the running back committee chaos with Josh Jacobs sidelined, and the wide receiver group trying to find consistency after a wild 42-38 win over Arizona.
Vanessa: If you haven’t subscribed yet, do it now. We are predicting the Packers will win the NFC North again this year, and if we’re wrong, well, at least we’ll have great content. Let’s dive into Segment One: The Quarterback Room.
Vanessa: Okay, Nick. Last night, Kyle McCord went 22-for-35 for 226 yards and four touchdowns against the Cardinals. Jordan Love barely played. Is McCord the starter? Or is this just preseason noise?
Nick: I want to be careful here. Four touchdowns is flashy, but look at the context. McCord was playing against second-unit defenses. His completion percentage was solid at roughly 63%, but he didn’t face heavy pressure. Love is the established guy, but McCord has shown he can execute the offense.
Vanessa: But think about the chemistry. McCord connected with J. Michael Sturdivant for a 29-yard touchdown and with Will Sheppard for a 12-yard score. That timing is crucial. If Love comes in and looks rusty, what happens?
Nick: That’s the risk. But remember, Tyrod Taylor is also on the roster. So you have three quarterbacks. The coaching staff needs to decide: do they stick with the veteran safety net of Love, or do they ride the hot hand of McCord who clearly understands the playbook better right now?
Vanessa: I’m saying McCord has earned the benefit of the doubt for the first few games unless Love forces his way back into the spotlight. The offense looked explosive last night. 42 points is a lot.
Nick: Easy there. For every 42 points scored, the Cardinals put up 38. Kedon Slovis went 21-for-35 for 223 yards. Our defense gave up 76 total yards of offense combined to Slovis and Evan Hull? No, wait, Hull rushed for 107. The defensive coverage lapses we talked about yesterday are still there.
Vanessa: Fair point. The defense allowed Simi Fehoko to go for 94 yards and two touchdowns. That’s not good. But back to the QB battle—if McCord starts, does the run game change? Because Josh Jacobs is on the commissioner exempt list.
Nick: Exactly. And that leads us perfectly into our next segment. The running back room is a mess. You have Chris Brooks, Kaleb Johnson, MarShawn Lloyd, and the injured Josh Jacobs. Who is getting the touches in Week 1?
Vanessa: Last night, Jaden Nixon had 9 carries for 44 yards. That’s not much. But Evan Hull, who plays for Arizona in this simulation? Wait, no, looking at the stats, Hull is listed under Arizona leaders. Did I misread that? No, the brief says Evan Hull had 16 carries for 107 yards for the Cardinals? That seems like a data mix-up in the brief, but let’s assume for the sake of the battle that we need to look at our own RBs.
Nick: Let’s stick to the Packers roster provided. We have Kaleb Johnson, who is a new addition. We have MarShawn Lloyd. We have Chris Brooks. With Jacobs out, one of these guys needs to step up. Kaleb Johnson has been mentioned in headlines as someone the team is excited about.
Vanessa: Right, and Jonnu Smith is also a new addition, but he’s a tight end. The headline asked 'What will Packers get from Kaleb Johnson, Jonnu Smith?' So Johnson is the key here. Does he take the lead role?
Nick: I think Kaleb Johnson gets the first crack because he’s a bigger body, more physical. MarShawn Lloyd might see more action in the passing game, similar to how he was used previously. But Chris Brooks? He’s the special teams ace. If the running game stalls, Brooks might bring the energy.
Vanessa: But what about the pass protection? If McCord is under center, he needs time. The offensive line has Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Donovan Jennings. They held up okay against Arizona, but Kedon Slovis only had 223 yards. The line did its job.
Nick: True. Dani Dennis-Sutton got a sack for us, which is good for the pass rush side. But on the other side, BJ Ojulari got 1.5 sacks for Arizona. Our interior line needs to be consistent. If the RBs can’t establish the run, the OL will be in pass protection mode for too long.
Vanessa: So, prediction time for the RB spot. I’m going with Kaleb Johnson as the primary runner until Jacobs returns. What about you?
Nick: I agree. Johnson has the size to handle a heavy load. But keep an eye on MarShawn Lloyd if the game script turns into a shootout. McCord likes his quick receivers.
Vanessa: Speaking of quick receivers, let’s talk about the Wide Receiver corps. This is where things get interesting. We have Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Bo Melton, Skyy Moore, Matthew Golden, and J. Michael Sturdivant.
Nick: And don’t forget Tip Reiman is out. That hurts the depth. Sturdivant had 6 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown last night. That’s huge. He’s clearly the most dangerous deep threat right now.
Vanessa: 112 yards is impressive. But can he sustain it? Christian Watson is talented but has injury concerns. Jayden Reed is reliable. Where does Sturdivant fit in the rotation?
Nick: He’s starting to look like a starter. If Matt LaFleur wants to stretch the field, Sturdivant is the guy. Bo Melton is more of a slot guy. Skyy Moore is still finding his footing. I think Sturdivant pushes for the number two receiver spot behind Reed.
Vanessa: I love that take. Sturdivant is trending up. Who is trending down? I’m worried about Skyy Moore. He hasn’t made a big play yet in the preseason.
Nick: Moore is risky. If Sturdivant keeps producing, Moore could be the first cut if they need to add another defender. The linebacker room is crowded with Zaire Franklin, Edgerrin Cooper, Ty’Ron Hopper. They need bodies.
Vanessa: That brings us to our final predictions. Who makes the final 53-man roster? Who gets cut?
Nick: I think Zach Bako-Bewele, an OT, might be the odd man out on the edge. The starters are John Williams, Jordan Morgan, Sean Rhyan, Aaron Banks. Travis Glover and Anthony Belton are backups. Bako-Bewele is likely practice squad material.
Vanessa: Agreed. On offense, I think Mark Redman, the TE, stays over Josh Whyle because Jonnu Smith and Tucker Kraft are locked in. Redman has experience. Whyle might be the one to go.
Nick: Solid guess. And on special teams, Will Sheppard is a lock. He had that punt return touchdown. Chad Ryland and Trey Smack are kicking, though Smack kicked the extra points last night. Ryland kicked the field goals. It’s a battle for the kicker spot, but Smack has the momentum.
Vanessa: So there you have it. McCord’s hot start, Kaleb Johnson’s potential rise, and Sturdivant’s breakout performance. The Packers are 2-1, the injuries are mounting, but the talent is there.
Nick: Just remember, the defense needs to tighten up. Allowing 38 points to Arizona is not acceptable for a championship run. But if the offense keeps scoring 40, they might survive it.
Vanessa: We predict the Packers will win the NFC North in 2026. Subscribe, rate, and review the show. Share it with a fellow Packer fan. Go Pack Go!