The Green Bay Packers will play their first preseason game Thursday in Pittsburgh as preparations for the 2026 NFL season rise to the next level. The preseason opener will be the first opportunity for many of these players to show what they can do in actual game conditions. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has decisions to make ahead of the preseason opener and there are some things to watch for in this game.

Matt LaFleur Has Decisions to Make Ahead of the First Packers First Preseason Game: The Quarterback

LaFleur indicated that Jordan Love would be available and will likely start against the Steelers. While Love will play, the first question is how long? There is always a balancing act in preseason games in the modern era. You want your starters to shake off the rust and get some time playing in game-like conditions, but you also don’t want to risk any injuries to your key players in a meaningless game.

Look for Love to play one series in this game, perhaps two and then to have a seat for the rest of the contest. We may also briefly see Love go up against former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is back with the Steelers this season. Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who coached Rodgers in Green Bay, indicated that Rodgers will likely play against his former team.

Tyrod Taylor will get a solid look for sure in this game as well. The more interesting thing to watch in this game will be the battle for the third quarterback spot between Kyle McCord and Kyron Drones. Hopefully, both players will get the chance to play extensively against Pittsburgh. The winner will earn a spot on the practice squad as the team’s third signal caller.

Interesting Look at the Running Backs

The Packers have announced that starting running back Josh Jacobs will not participate in the preseason opener. In fact, Jacobs will miss at least another week of camp due to a groin injury. He was working with the training group at Tuesday’s practice along with other players working their way back from injuries. Had he been healthy, Jacobs would have likely played one or two series at most.

The bigger issue at running back will be what we see of MarShawn Lloyd. Thus far, the third year running back has remained healthy through the first half of training camp. The Packers want to get a look at Lloyd under game conditions. In the past, Lloyd played well when he was in the lineup.

Again, the coaching staff will want to find the balance between seeing what Lloyd can do in game conditions and not losing him to injury in a meaningless game.

The team will also want to get an extended look at the other running backs on the roster, especially since Jacobs’ status for the season remains uncertain pending the league’s investigation into his offseason arrest due to an alleged domestic violence incident.

 Matt LaFleur Has Decisions to Make Ahead of the First Packers First Preseason Game: Position Battles

The Packers do have some position battles to keep an eye on. It will be interesting to see who plays and for how long in the opener in Pittsburgh.

Keisean Nixon is fighting to hold on to his starting cornerback job with rookie Brandon Cisse and free agent addition Benjamin St-Juste battling for starting jobs. The other incumbent starting cornerback, Carrington Valentine, remains out of the lineup with an injury but he’s fighting for his job as well.

Starting slot corner Javon Bullard will also be out with an injury and was seen wearing a walking boot, but Bullard indicated the injury is not serious, and he could play if this was a regular-season game. It will be interesting to see who plays in the slot against the Steelers.

The other major battle comes at guard. Anthony Belton has endured a shaky training camp. Both rookie Jager Burton and veteran Jacob Monk have shown promise and will be battling for a chance to start in place of Belton.

Starting left guard Aaron Banks has missed time in training camp with injuries so Burton, Belton, and Monk may all see extended playing time. How they do will have a big impact on who the starting guard will be once the season starts.

 

 

 

 

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