The Green Bay Packers will open the preseason on Thursday night when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. Head coach Matt LaFleur indicated earlier this week that he intended to play many of his healthy starters in this game. Most of them will likely only play a series or two. Here are 10 Packers players to watch in preseason Game 1 vs the Steelers. These are players whose performances will have a big impact on their future and the team. They are not listed in any particular order.
Ten Packers to Watch in Preseason Game 1, Number One: CB Brandon Cisse
Rookie Brandon Cisse has got off to an impressive start at training camp and has spent a lot of time with the starters. That is partially due to an injury that kept Carrington Valentine sidelined early in camp, but Cisse keeps making plays and getting noticed.
Now Cisse will have a chance to lay claim to a starting job with a strong preseason. That starts in game one at Pittsburgh.
Keisean Nixon, who is the other incumbent starter at cornerback, has also been inconsistent and so Cisse has a real opportunity to lay claim to a starting spot as a rookie.
Number Two: RB MarShawn Lloyd
The good news is MarShawn Lloyd has remained healthy through the first half of training camp, and he’s looked good in practice. Now, the Packers want to see Lloyd play well and stay healthy under game conditions.
Lloyd has great speed and can change directions quickly. That makes him a home run threat and a different type of runner than starter Josh Jacobs. Lloyd can give the team another weapon on the offense if he can stay healthy, but can he?
Ten Packers to Watch in Preseason Game 1, Number Three: OL Jager Burton
The coaching staff has been raving about fifth-round pick Jager Burton since they saw him at OTAs. That strong play has continued throughout training camp. Starting left guard Aaron Banks has missed time at camp due to injuries while right guard Anthony Belton has struggled with inconsistent play.
Burton will likely see plenty of action against the Steelers including time with the starters. He has a chance to show his potential and make a claim for either a starting job or at least the swing interior offensive line position once the season starts.
Number Four: K Trey Smack
The Packers traded up to select Trey Smack in the sixth round of this year’s NFL Draft. The kicker possesses a strong leg and was considered the best kicker available in this year’s draft class.
Smack has had his good days and bad days since joining the Packers. He performed well at Family Night last week but had struggled at practice before then.
The Packers have already released three kickers since they drafted Smack and clearly want him to be their kicker. Now we will see what he can do under game conditions for the first time. Pittsburgh is considered one of the toughest stadiums for kickers so this will be a real challenge for the former University of Florida star.
Ten Packers to Watch in Preseason Game 1, Number Five: WR Savion Williams
The Packers know who their top three receivers will be, but the backup positions are less certain. The team expects 2025 third-round pick Savion Williams to be their primary backup receiver. Williams has picked up his game in training camp recently after a slow start. Now he has a chance to get significant reps against the Steelers and to establish himself as the team’s fourth receiver.
LaFleur will likely set up some gadget plays for Williams once the season starts, but don’t expect too many trick plays in a preseason game.
Number Six: DT Anthony Campbell
Few people gave Anthony Campbell much of a chance to make the Packers roster before training camp began, but Campbell just keeps making plays day after day and getting noticed.
The University of Miami alum has gotten penetration at the line of scrimmage and continues to knock down passes with regularity.
He needs to continue to play well to have a chance to make the 53-man roster but his chances of at least making the practice squad look much better now.
Ten Packers to Watch in Preseason Game 1, Number Seven: OL Jacob Monk
Jacob Monk appears to have taken a step forward this year at training camp. Now, he will likely get a chance to show what he can do against real opponents.
Monk needs to play well and prove his improvement is genuine, not just hype because the Packers are displeased with Belton’s play. He will get that chance against Pittsburgh.
Number Eight: Edge Barryn Sorrell
Barryn Sorrell remains the favorite to start opposite Lukas Van Ness on the edge until Micah Parsons returns to the lineup sometime in October. Sorrell has gotten off to a good start in training camp but has plenty of competition from Collin Oliver, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Brenton Cox.
A strong game from Sorrell would go a long way towards cementing that starting job in Week 1 next month when the games count.
Ten Packers to Watch in Preseason Game 1, Number Nine: WR J. Michael Sturdivant
The battle for the final spots in the wide receiver room will be an interesting one to watch. Undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant has played very well and has given himself a chance to make the roster or at least the practice squad.
Sturdivant was inconsistent in college and never matched the production he had in his first season. He does possess elite athleticism with a 9.96 relative athletic score.
If he’s going to earn one of the final roster spots at receiver, Sturdivant will need to make some big plays in the preseason. We’ll see how he fares in his first NFL preseason game in Pittsburgh.
Number 10: QB Tyrod Taylor
Jordan Love will likely see action for a series or two, but this game will be the first opportunity the Packers have to see veteran backup Tyrod Taylor in green and gold.
Taylor needs to show he can move the team and take command of the huddle. Based on his vast experience, this should be a minor formality for him. The coaching staff will want to see how he handles the Packers offense and utilizes his receivers albeit in a rather vanilla version of playbook.
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