5 Packers Under Pressure to Perform at Training Camp 2026
By markoldacres
MarShawn Lloyd
The injuries Lloyd has dealt with throughout the first two years of his NFL career are not his fault, and no one will have been more frustrated than him at his lack of ability to contribute.
Now though, it is put up or shut up time.
There have been positive reports regarding the Packers and Lloyd being able to diagnose the source of his recurring injury issues this offseason, so we will see if he can finally have a healthy training camp and eventually get on the field in the regular season.
With Josh Jacobs’ status still up in the air, Green Bay could really benefit from Lloyd’s presence, if the legend of his electric on-field ability proves to be true. It feels like now or never for Lloyd entering training camp.
Luke Musgrave
After a bright start to his career as a rookie, Musgrave has faded into the background following Tucker Kraft’s emergence, partly hindered by injuries of his own.
By the end of last season he was being outsnapped by John FitzPatrick, which does not bode well for his prospects of making an impact in 2026.
He can still have a role as a seam stretching tight end, complementing the other skillsets in the room, but as he heads into the last year of his rookie deal, Musgrave has a lot of work to do if he wants to avoid being an afterthought in the offense once more.
Anthony Belton
Belton deserves credit for battling through his rookie year, particularly after being thrown into the fire at right guard in the season, having not practiced there at all during the summer.
He improved as the season went on, and now enters training camp as the clubhouse leader to hold down the right guard spot permanently in 2026. There is a new challenger though in the form of rookie 5th round pick Jager Burton.
Burton had most of his success in college at center, but can play guard and got some looks with the first team offense during the offseason program. He has earned praise from the coaches who seem excited about his potential, and he has a chance to push Belton for his job.
Belton needs to bring his A-game this summer and show he is continuing to progress.
Brenton Cox Jr.
With Micah Parsons currently not in the picture, there are plenty of reps up for grabs at the outside linebacker spot. Lukas Van Ness will start, with a group of young pass rushers, headlined by Cox and Barryn Sorrell, competing for the other starting position.
Cox had some bright flashes in 2024. Former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley sung his praises and was proven right, as Cox had 18 pressures and four sacks per PFF in just 112 pass rush reps. Unfortunately, his 2025 season was mostly derailed by injuries.
Now heading into his fourth season in the NFL, he will not get a better chance than this to make his mark.
Ty’Ron Hopper
Hopper was a controversial 3rd round pick at the time he was selected, and has not had much of an impact in his first couple of years in the league, playing only 151 defensive snaps in that time, although he did have an interception in the playoff loss to the Bears.
In Jonathan Gannon’s 3-4 scheme, there is now even less scope for him to get on the field, with only two off-ball linebackers needed on the field at most.
Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin and Isaiah McDuffie seem firmly entrenched ahead of him on the depth chart, while Nick Niemann and Kristian Welch offer value as designated special teamers.
If Hopper is to stay in the minds of the coaches and give himself a chance of developing into a real contributor for the Packers, he needs to be at the top of his game this summer.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (30)
Zapato
July 27, 2026 at 10:19 am
Marshawn Lloyd just needs to stay healthy in order to make the 53.
I just don't see anyone in the current TE room unseating Musgrave.
Anthony Belton, with a complete offseason to learn the right guard position will be the starting right guard. Everyone seems to be pretty high on Burton, which is warranted, but I don't see him breaking into the starting line up for game 1.
I really like the competition in the defensive edge room. A lot of potential with the potential to have an impact this season. Will Brenton Cox start? Not sure, but I'm going to give the nod to Barryn Sorrell at the start of camp.
That leaves us with Tyron Hopper. This is the player who probably really needs to impress. I think he could get booted in favor of both Welch and Neimann making the team. Maybe that sounds odd, but the Packers might see the value in two special teams aces over a not-so-great backup.
dobber
July 27, 2026 at 02:32 pm
I think this is a pretty accurate assessment.
I'm with you on Burton, who hasn't put on pads or had to mash against full-grown NFL DTs, yet. Maybe he ends up a starter, but unless there's an injury, it's not likely to be early on.
I agree on Hopper, but I'd say don't sleep on TJ Quinn. He could sneak through.
GreenandBold
July 27, 2026 at 10:34 am
I would say most of the roster is under pressure during training camp . I think Valentine should feel some heat with Cisse coming in . At least I hope so .
Coldworld
July 27, 2026 at 10:44 am
I still think the issue with Musgrave is as much LaFleur not having figured out how to use him to his strengths not weaknesses as it is due to Musgrave. Honestly, were I Gute I’d probably seek to barter him for a player that’s surplus elsewhere later in preseason. He simply does not fit what we do, and while I think Whyle is a poor blocker, he’s not quite as bad as Musgrave and can run a more versatile route tree.
I am getting increasingly wary of the hype around Burton. 5th round picks are rarely a shoe in. It took Tom a year to settle into a position and he was about as good as one can get from the outset of Camp and through preseason. If Burton is close to that good then yes, let’s celebrate, but Tom is the exception not the rule. Let’s see them with pads on before bowing any more trumpets.
Guam
July 27, 2026 at 11:14 am
I think you are spot on about Musgrave. LaFleur's offense requires blocking TEs (and blocking WRs) and that is just not Musgrave. Just a poor fit for the offense and the Packers would do well to swap him for a reserve LT if possible.
Burton is getting a lot of hype for a guy who hasn't taken a single snap in pads for the Packers. I will wait for TC before I celebrate his arrival. Hopefully he is as good as advertised, but I'm not holding my breath.
Oxymoron 3339
July 27, 2026 at 12:54 pm
TE’s are supposed to be able to block or else your more of an H Back. Other than Kraft we have failed in drafting quality TE’s (Degura & Sternberger come to mind). Hopefully someone else will step up (Maryland or Dabney?) Maybe we can nab someone off a practice squad too.
Chumura and Jackson were a good combo. Kraft is a keeper now we just need another.
Cheezehead72
July 27, 2026 at 01:53 pm
I agree about Chumura and Jackson. They complimented each other. I will say that Kraft and Musgrave had not had many opportunities to play together.
Guam
July 27, 2026 at 02:31 pm
I think H-backs are supposed to be able to block too. Not sure why Musgrave never picked up that skill set, but it is hurting him in the pros. Lachey was a decent in-line blocker at Iowa and may have better blocking skills than any other Packer TE except Kraft. I wouldn't discount his chances.
Coldworld
July 27, 2026 at 06:22 pm
H backs are usually more lead blocking types. They are shorter and win the leverage battle more easily—closer to fullbacks but with less ball carrying and a larger route tree. Of the guys in the Packers roster only Dabney has a build where that might be plausible.
dobber
July 27, 2026 at 03:03 pm
The only thing that really defines a TE is lining up on the shoulder of either OT, regardless of whether they do any blocking or just release into routes. That's it. Any guy who isn't doing that is a WR or a RB.
Cheezehead72
July 27, 2026 at 01:52 pm
I agree with Oxy but I would say that a TE that does not block is just a big receiver that does not block. He is a professional and this is his job he should have learned how to block at least enough to help out the tackle.
The other problem with Musgrave is he has little YACs.
Guam
July 27, 2026 at 11:17 am
Llyod and Cox are two guys I have high hopes for. Both have had injuries and missed time, but both have that dreaded stigma of potential. If either or both reach their potential and aren't derailed again by injuries, they could significantly impact this season for the Packers. Hopper looks like another third round bomb for Gute.
TarynsEyes
July 27, 2026 at 11:33 am
The whole team should be under pressure, and more so those who have already gotten big contracts.
Coldworld
July 27, 2026 at 12:04 pm
I don’t know that I’d go that far, but I would definitely say all the guys in the trenches apart from Tom and Parsons. Of course, that is the other side of the coin of saying a lot of guys have an opportunity to show they can play or play better with genuine opportunities.
TarynsEyes
July 27, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Be brave, you know it isn't just the trench guys or exceptions.
Coldworld
July 27, 2026 at 01:49 pm
I’m pretty comfortable at S, at WR, as things stand at RB (I think we can survive one of Jacobs or Lloyd unavailable via Martinez or String respectively). I’m fine at QB and I don’t think our ILBs got worse or for that matter our corners (low bar issues notwithstanding. None of that really matters though if our offense and defensive fronts can’t get it done.
Leatherhead
July 27, 2026 at 12:58 pm
For most, training camp isn't about "proving" anything. It's about getting ready to play a season.
Towards the bottom of the roster, you're trying to prove you belong on the roster more than the next guy. The 6th WR, the #4 RB, the #9 OL, etc.. But for the top 30-35 guys, it's not about pressure, it's about preparation.
Bitternotsour
July 27, 2026 at 04:01 pm
I can't think of a player jumping up the roster since Sam Shields, really. I mean Bullard and Evan Williams?
Bullard and Williams had a slot to move into and were relatively high draft picks. Shields broke down a door.
vin0770
July 27, 2026 at 01:31 pm
To perform in training camp, I guess. One is a starter and the others get valuable role playing snaps for sure, so how about game one when the games start to count. And you could add every player that was on the roster last year. If you don’t perform now, next!
Since'61
July 27, 2026 at 02:21 pm
I think Nixon and Valentine should be under pressure to perform during TC as well. Either one or both could be supplanted by Cisse or Jackson. I would be fine both Cisse and Jackson became our starters especially if they are willing to tackle which neither Valentine nor Nixon are.
Also, MLF, Stenovich and Butkus should be under pressure this season. If the offense under performs this season it will be time to chuck them all.
Thanks, Since '61
dobber
July 27, 2026 at 02:49 pm
Under Hafley, the Packers didn't lean very deep in their CBs or Ss, barring injury, and with Bullard covering the slot that leaves 4 CBs vying for two players' worth of snaps. It will be interesting to see if Gannon rotates or if he plays mostly just two guys...and which two rise to the top. I think Nixon is fine as a second or third CB--he played well earlier last season. I'm not a fan of Valentine, although he's surpassed what you'd expect from a 7th round CB.
"Also, MLF, Stenovich and Butkus should be under pressure....it will be time to chuck them all."
That time passed last January.
jannesbjornson
July 27, 2026 at 03:10 pm
I agree with your assessment. The Playoff game against Philly should have moved Valentine down the ranks.
Not inspiring. Nixon a nickel guy.
Leatherhead
July 27, 2026 at 06:18 pm
You realize that Valentine was starting that game because the coaches didn't want to put Stokes on the field, and Alexander was hurt?
lou
July 27, 2026 at 04:14 pm
Where is Aaron Banks who should be at the top of the list, check out his status as released today, he also missed the OTA;s, $47M paid in bonus and salaries to date and just like last year he missed the OTA's as well as many pre-season practices and game time because of injury. What the Hell was he doing this offseason ?????
The team placed RB Chris Brooks on the active/non-football injury list while G Aaron Banks, CB Kamal Hadden, DT Javon Hargrave, TE Tucker Kraft and TE Luke Musgrave were placed on the active/PUP list.
Leatherhead
July 27, 2026 at 06:07 pm
What do you think an above average, veteran , lineman should earn?
He's a $12M cap hit this year, unless you want to just cut him and then you'd have $36M in dead cap. So he's not going anywhere, and he doesn't have anything to prove. He'd start for most of the teams in the league. We should be happy he's starting for us.
He does have to get his body right. Last year, it wasn't and it caused him to miss reps in practice and also a couple of games early. The rest of the season, he was a solid member of the Oline.
The Packers placed him on PUP, so he joins Parsons and Kraft as guys we won't have early on. Already, the depth on this Oline is being tested and training camp hasn't even started yet.
CanPackFan
July 27, 2026 at 04:58 pm
See below
CanPackFan
July 27, 2026 at 04:59 pm
Of these 5, Belton and Cox are probably the 2 that could start.
Musgrave is a WR in the body of a TE. He'll get playing time only because of Krafts injury. We need TEs that are tough to complement Kraft when he's not in. Let's try put Bo Melton at TE, lol. Weve tried him just about everywhere else? He'd be tougher than Musgrave...
I can't comment on Lloyd. His injury history makes him a unknown commodity at this time...
Bitternotsour
July 27, 2026 at 05:27 pm
Yeah nothing says a lack of toughness like literally having your kidney blown up and pissing blood for 3 months and then working your way back onto a football field again.
Have at it tough guy. Tell us more.
Leatherhead
July 27, 2026 at 06:15 pm
A couple of years ago, the Packers moved on from Tonyan and Lewis and drafted two TEs on Day 2. The hope was that at least one of them would be healthy enough to suit up for the next several years and that's worked out. Musgrave was the starter, got hurt ( a serious freakin injury, and not a commentary on his toughness). Kraft took over and got to Pro Bowl level before he got hurt,and now it's Musgrave again
Now Kraft is on PUP so Musgrave is the starter again, at least for the first four weeks, or until he gets injured. I don't expect the Packers will resign him after the season and he'll sign a nice contract with some other team.
Coldworld
July 27, 2026 at 06:26 pm
Musgrave is on the PUP at least for now.