Training camp has ended for the Green Bay Packers and now the team is beginning their preparations for the season opener in Minnesota on September 13.

Even with the season so close, it’s tough to accurately judge where this team is at without the benefit of a full training camp and any preseason games.

Still, here are five fearless predictions of what we should expect to see from the Packers in 2020:

5. Aaron Jones Will Have Fewer Touchdowns in 2020

Running back Aaron Jones had an outstanding season in 2019, gaining more than 1,000 yards on the ground and finishing second on the team with 49 receptions. He also tied for the league lead with 19 total touchdowns during the regular season.

I expect Jones to have another strong season, but the addition of rookie A.J. Dillon will likely reduce the number of touches Jones gets near the goal line. The Packers will also likely spread their touches around more between their backs, tight ends and receivers this year. Even though Jones will prove his 2019 performance was no fluke, he will probably go down to between 12 and 15 touchdowns in 2020.

4. Rashan Gary Makes An Impact

I’m not ready to pencil Gary in for a Pro Bowl berth, but he will earn a lot more playing time in 2020 and he will make more of an impact on the field.

The injury to rookie Kamal Martin and the departure of Kyler Fackrell will both help give Gary more chances to be on the field in Mike Pettine’s different packages. Gary will take a noticeable step forward in his second year in the league. I expect he will notch between seven and nine sacks and will make his presence known to opposing offenses.

Assuming he stays healthy, look for Gary’s impact to increase as the season progresses.

3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Becomes an Impact Receiver

Valdes-Scantling has had a strong training camp and that will carry over to the regular season. He will be one of the Packers top three receivers along with Davante Adams and Allen Lazard.

MVS will be more than a one-dimensional deep threat. This is the year he begins to contribute on slants, comeback routes and other intermediate passes. Being able to make those kinds of catches will be a key for Valdes-Scantling this season.

Expect about 40 catches for MVS with a few memorable big plays mixed in. He will finally gain the trust of his quarterback and that will mark a turning point in his career. He’s far from an elite player, but this year will mark a big step forward for the third-year man out of South Florida.

2. Aaron Rodgers Has a Strong Season

No, the numbers will not match 2011 or 2014, but Aaron Rodgers will have a strong season and there are a few reasons for it. First, he feels challenged after the drafting of Jordan Love. Rodgers clearly wasn’t thrilled when the Packers traded up to draft his potential successor and he will respond to this challenge accordingly. Rodgers also knows he needs to have a strong season to keep his job in 2021 and beyond and he will play well.

The fact that he is now in his second year in Matt LaFleur’s offense will also help, as will the fact that the additions of players like Dillion and Josiah Deguara who are both great fits in that system. Last year was a season of adjustment for Rodgers, this year will be a season of growth in that offense.

Finally, even though the Packers didn’t draft a wide receiver, the addition of Dillon and Deguara and the return to health of MVS and Equanimeous St. Brown and the growth of Lazard will all help Rodgers thrive in 2020. Look for 35 touchdowns, at least 3,800 yards and no more than eight interceptions this year. His yardage totals may not be as prolific, but he will run an improved offense this season.

1. The Run Defense Will Be OK

Notice I did not say great or even good. The Packers were ranked 23^rd in the NFL in rushing yards allowed in part because the team emphasizes defending the pass. That emphasis will continue but the Packers run defense will improve to the middle of the pack, maybe between 15^th and 18^th in the league.

Improvement will come from a healthy Christian Kirksey, more playing time for Rashan Gary and Kingsley Keke and the availability (hopefully) of Raven Greene for more of the season. The Smith Brothers will also be better at taking angles and holding the edge which will help prevent some of those long runs to the outside that hurt the Pack so much. Another factor will be the improvement that Darnell Savage takes in his second year at stopping the run.

The 2020 Packers will never be the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers or the 2000 Ravens at stopping the run, but they will be good enough to prevent any repeats of last year’s NFC Championship Game and that’s a big step forward for this team.