The Green Bay Packers will open the 2020 regular season on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Matt LaFleur’s team is attempting to take the final step after winning 13 games and advancing to the NFC title game in his first year as the coach in 2019.
Here’s a full preview of the Packers’ season before Sunday’s kickoff, with schedule information, breakdowns of newcomers and rookies, injury notes and season predictions:
SCHEDULE
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (CT) |
| 1 | 9/13 | at Minnesota Vikings | 12:00 |
| 2 | 9/20 | vs. Detroit Lions | 12:00 |
| 3 | 9/27 | at New Orleans Saints (SNF) | 7:20 |
| 4 | 10/5 | vs. Atlanta Falcons (MNF) | 7:15 |
| 5 | BYE WEEK | 3:25 | |
| 6 | 10/18 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3:25 |
| 7 | 10/25 | at Houston Texans | 12:00 |
| 8 | 11/1 | vs. Minnesota Vikings | 12:00 |
| 9 | 11/5 | at San Francisco 49ers (TNF) | 7:20 |
| 10 | 11/15 | vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | 12:00 |
| 11 | 11/22 | at Indianapolis Colts | 12:00 |
| 12 | 11/29 | vs. Chicago Bears (SNF) | 7:20 |
| 13 | 12/6 | vs. Philadelphia Eagles | 3:25 |
| 14 | 12/13 | at Detroit Lions | 12:00 |
| 15 | 12/19 or 12/20 | vs. Carolina Panthers | TBD |
| 16 | 12/27 | vs. Tennessee Titans (SNF) | 7:20 |
| 17 | 1/3 | at Chicago Bears | 12:00 |
NEWCOMERS
LB Christian Kirksey (No. 58): Kirksey arrives in Green Bay after six years in Cleveland. He knows the defense and is, by all accounts, a terrific leader. The Packers are hoping he adds a dynamic element to the linebacker position.
OT Rick Wagner (No. 71): The Wisconsin native was an effective player for both the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions. An injury clouds the start to his season, but he’s in the running to replace Bryan Bulaga at right tackle.
Defensive backs coach Jerry Gray: He’s a former Pro Bowl player and highly experienced defensive coach who arrives from Minnesota. Gray has a long history of developing talent, and he’ll have a lot of talent to work with in the Packers secondary.
CB Parry Nickerson (No. 35): The Packers signed Nickerson to the 53-man roster on Monday. He’s on his fourth team in three years but has 4.42 speed.
UP-AND-COMERS
OLB Rashan Gary: Last year’s top pick had a standout training camp, consistently providing disruptive moments as a rusher. He could be ready to break out within a bigger role in 2020.
LG Elgton Jenkins: He was terrific as a rookie. In Year 2, Jenkins could ascend to Pro Bowl status.
CB Chandon Sullivan: The Packers will start him as the nickel cornerback. He played really well as the No. 4 corner last year. Now, he must replace Tramon Williams.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: The Packers think he’s improved in several important areas. The offense needs his speed and vertical ability to shine as a third-year receiver.
DL Kingsley Keke: The second-year lineman is going to play a much bigger role in 2020, and the Packers think he can add something to the front as a pass-rusher.
RB/WR Tyler Ervin: He’ll be the top returner on special teams, but he’ll also give the Packers a versatile and explosive weapon on offense, potentially even as a gadget/slot type.
ROOKIES
QB Jordan Love (No. 10): The Packers traded up in the first round to take Love, the raw but talented quarterback prospect from Utah State. He’ll open the 2020 season as the No. 3 quarterback.
RB A.J. Dillon (No. 28): He is a massive, 247-pound running back with terrific athleticism. The Packers think he can be a factor in the passing game. Snaps might be few and far between early, but he should eventually play a role.
TE Josiah Deguara (No. 81): The Packers love his versatility. He could line up all over the formation, even as a rookie. While his role might be rotational early, he could make an impact as a move tight end and fullback.
LB Kamal Martin (No. 54): He was the standout rookie throughout training camp, but a knee injury derailed his summer. He’ll start the season on IR. There’s a chance be could make an impact over the second half of the year.
OL Jon Runyan (No. 76): He played left tackle at Michigan, but the Packers are training him at left guard to start his NFL career. He needs time, but he could be a future starter.
C Jake Hanson (No. 67): Released during final cutdowns, Hanson came back on the practice squad. He needs to get stronger and more comfortable in a pro offense.
OL Simon Stepaniak (No. 72): He injured his knee to finish his college career and remains on the reserve/non-football injury list to start 2020.
S Vernon Scott (No. 36): He made the roster as the fifth safety. The Packers think he can be a versatile coverage player with potential on special teams.
OLB Jonathan Garvin (No. 53): The Packers think they have a potentially valuable rusher in the 21-year-old Garvin, who had an impressive camp.
INJURIES TO KNOW
LB Kamal Martin: The rookie linebacker needed surgery to correct a meniscus injury. He could miss 6-8 weeks to start the season.
OL Billy Turner: A knee injury could prevent Turner from starting at either right guard or right tackle in Week 1.
DL Montravius Adams: He hurt his toe early and camp and still hasn’t returned. He could miss a couple of weeks to start the regular season.
CB Kabion Ento: He hurt his foot during camp and needed surgery. He could miss a big chunk of 2020.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
TE Jimmy Graham: The veteran tight end was released in March, ending a disappointing run in Green Bay. He headed south to Chicago, where he’ll be an option in the passing game for the rival Bears.
RT Bryan Bulaga: The long-time starter at right tackle found a new home with the Los Angeles Chargers. He reunited with former Packers offensive line coach James Campen in Los Angeles.
LB Blake Martinez: The team’s tackle leader left for New York and a chance to be the middle linebacker for the Giants during free agency.
OLB Kyler Fackrell: He followed Martinez to New York. The rotational edge rusher is hoping for a bigger role with the Giants.
LB B.J. Goodson: Last season’s No. 2 linebacker is now with the Cleveland Browns.
QUICK HITS
Biggest strength: It could be quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is entering a vitally important season, or standout running back Aaron Jones, but the safe bet here is the pass-rush. Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary could form a devastating four-some of rushers.
Biggest weakness: Depth along the defensive line and at inside linebacker, question marks on the right side of the offensive line and inexperience in the passing game behind Davante Adams.
Biggest addition: The Packers are really banking on Christian Kirksey staying healthy and giving the defense something new in the middle.
Best case scenario: The offense takes a big step forward, becoming far more efficient in the passing game, and the defense ascends to elite status, making the Packers one of the most balanced and talented teams in the NFL and ensuring they’re one of the last few teams remaining in the playoff field.
Worst case scenario: The passing game stagnates without outside help, the defense takes a step back in terms of pressure and turnovers, injuries hit key positions and all the regression scenarios play out in real-time, helping the Packers miss the playoffs just one year after going 13-3.
Breakout player to watch, offense: OL Elgton Jenkins
Breakout player to watch, defense: S Darnell Savage
SEASON PREDICTION
The Packers are prime regression candidates, and for a few good reasons. For starters, it’s simply hard to go 13-3 in back-to-back years, even for the most talented teams, and the Packers – by all analytical standards – overachieved and didn’t play like a 13-3 team a year ago. Regression in the win-loss column is fine just as long as Matt LaFleur’s team improves in other meaningful ways in 2020. It’s certainly possible. The offense should be better in Year 2, especially if Aaron Rodgers is as sharp in the passing game as he was for much of training camp. The two-time MVP can be the ultimate regression-halter. The defense is really talented, with key pieces at every level, big-time pass-rushers and young, talented and ascending players in the secondary. Still, the schedule looks daunting, especially early, and the Packers probably won’t get be as fortunate as they were in 2019. This looks like a team destined for a record somewhere between 9-7 and 11-5, but it also looks like a likely playoff team, especially with seven playoff slots in each conference. The guess here is 10-6. The goals are all the same – win the NFC North and get a home playoff game. Both look attainable. From there, anything can happen, even if the Packers aren’t considered one of the top contenders to start 2020. This team could gel by January.
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