The Green Bay Packers made only one move at the NFL trade deadline. They granted the wish of veteran edge rusher Preston Smith and traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a seventh-round pick in 2025. That means that beginning this Sunday against the Bears, the Packers have an opening for a starting defensive end. There is a former first-round pick who is the leading candidate to take over the starting role, but is Lukas Van Ness ready to step up in Smith’s absence?

Is Packers DE Lukas Van Ness Ready to Step Up: His Career So Far

The Packers selected Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Incredibly enough, Van Ness never started a game during his college career. That is a bit misleading because the Hawkeyes gave upperclassman the upper hand at starting. Van Ness did see more action than the seniors who were starting games ahead of him.

Van Ness played multiple positions along the defensive line at Iowa. His size and athleticism earned him the nickname, “Hercules.” They also made the Packers interested in drafting him with the idea of making him an outside linebacker and edge rusher.

Like Rashan Gary before him, the Packers expected to bring Van Ness along gradually as he learned a new position. They had Preston Smith and Gary starting ahead of him.

In his rookie year, Van Ness recorded four sacks and eight tackles for loss. He didn’t start any games but was part of the edge rush rotation. He played 33 percent of the team’s defensive snaps while appearing in all 17 games.

This year, the Packers were hoping for a second-year jump for Van Ness. As of now, they have yet to see it. Van Ness has played 41 percent of the team’s defensive snaps but has recorded just one sack and four tackles for loss. According to Pro Football Focus, he only has six pressures in 141 pass rushing snaps.

The Packers Pass Rush Issues

Thus far this season, the Packers front four has struggled to generate much pass rush this season without defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley having to resort to numerous blitz packages.

It hasn’t just been Van Ness. Devonte Wyatt leads the team with three sacks from his defensive tackle spot. Gary is next among the front four with 2.5 sacks, which matches the recently departed Preston Smith. No other member of the front four has more than 1.5 sacks.

Players like rookie LB Edgerrin Cooper, cornerback Keisean Nixon and linebackers Eric Wilson and Quay Walker are next on the team’s list of sack leaders.

Simply put, the front four just hasn’t created enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Is Packers DE Lukas Van Ness Ready to Step Up: Other Candidates

As of now, Van Ness is listed on the team’s depth chart as the starter at edge rusher opposite Gary. If he does start Sunday in Chicago, it will be the first time he’s started a football game since high school.

Van Ness will get the first chance to fill this position. As a former first-round pick, he has the highest potential and therefore the highest expectations of any of the candidates.

Other players who should see more playing time as a result of the Preston Smith trade are Kingsley Enagbare, who has 1.5 sacks thus far this season. Enagbare has played 43 percent of the team’s defensive snaps and is likely Van Ness’ biggest competition for the starting spot.

Aarron Mosby and Brenton Cox are also on the roster and should see increased playing time. One of them will likely join the regular edge rush rotation. Mosby had an outstanding preseason and recorded a half sack in the Packers last game against Detroit. He would be the favorite to join the rotation.

This will likely be Van Ness’ big chance to become a starter and increase his role in the Green Bay defense this season. If he succeeds, his career will take a step forward. If he fails to take advantage of this opportunity, he will be considered a disappointment at this early stage of his NFL career.

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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