Packers Bounce Back Candidates in 2026

Jayden Reed should have a big impact on the Packers offense if he can stay healthy in 2026.

Jayden Reed

It is easy to forget (and many in the national media have) that Jayden Reed was Green Bay’s leading receiver in both 2023 and 2024, before an injury-riddled 2025 season which never really got off the ground.

The Packers certainly have not overlooked Reed’s importance to the offense, signing him to a three-year, $50m contract extension this offseason, and he is primed for a return to form in 2026 if he can stay healthy, after managing just 250 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns last year.

Having made their decisions on the receivers they want to build around for the foreseeable future, the trio of Reed, Christian Watson and Matthew Golden will look to make beautiful music together in 2026.

Luke Musgrave

Musgrave’s rookie year feels quite some time ago now, when he was a consistent part of the passing attack before a bizarre lacerated kidney injury knocked him out of the lineup and opened the door for Tucker Kraft.

He has become more of a role player since then, but can still have an impact in that role as a seam-stretching tight end, especially in today's NFL which is implementing more two-tight-end sets.

While this is likely to be Musgrave’s last year in green and gold, there is still time for him to go out with a bang.

Zach Tom

Tom dealt with various injuries in 2025, and although he was still by far Green Bay’s best offensive lineman, both he and the team know there is another level he can hit, having played his best football the previous season, earning him a long-term contract extension.

The offensive line was one of the bigger disappointments for the Packers last season, and if they are to improve in 2026, they must get Tom back to his best self as he returns from a knee injury, and keep him healthy.

There are changes elsewhere on the O-line for Green Bay this year, as Jordan Morgan takes over at left tackle, so having Tom on the other side as a pillar of consistency will be vital.

Karl Brooks

Brooks flashed bright as a rookie, but has not quite lived up to his potential since then. Perhaps he was never meant to be more than a rotational defensive tackle, and being forced into using him as an every-down player last season did him a disservice.

Part of the reason for that was another injury to Devonte Wyatt, who has had real trouble staying healthy and completing seasons. The other element was the removal of Kenny Clark from the equation, which should hopefully be remedied by the signing of Javon Hargrave.

Add in 3rd round pick Chris McClellan, and hopefully Brooks can stay fresh and get back to being more impactful on a lighter workload.

Xavier McKinney

This is more a comment on how well McKinney played in 2024, rather than anything he did wrong in 2025.

McKinney was still excellent on the back end for the Packers, forming an effective tandem with Evan Williams, but the splash plays were in shorter supply, as he only notched two interceptions compared to nine in the previous season.

He did have nine pass break ups compared to only three in 2024, which shows he was still around the ball, and maybe the stars simply didn’t align quite as well for the picks to come. He will be looking to get back to taking the ball away on the regular this season.

 

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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 (10)

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Leatherhead's picture

June 22, 2026 at 07:55 pm

I think there is a very strong likelihood that

1) Jayden Reed will have a better season.
2) Tucker Kraft will have a better season.
3) Micah Parsons will have a better season.

Less certain, but still more likely than not:

4) Lukas Van Ness
5) Belton
6) Tom, who missed the last five games.

Finally, there are the guys who we have spent the last year developing....Brinson, Oliver, Sorrell, Stackhouse. At least ONE of these guys, and maybe more, are going to have a bigger role in the defense than any of us are imagining

I have to disagree on Brooks; this guy is a solid piece. He's always available for practice and games. He has 8.5 sacks and gets in on quite a few tackles. He played 59% of our defensive snaps AND 143 Special Teams snaps. And he's on a cheap rookie contract. This is a pretty good return on a late 6th round draft pick.

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dobber's picture

June 23, 2026 at 10:20 am

I'd also say that if his legal issues are behind him, Josh Jacobs will be better this season...so long as the OL has good health.

"rinson, Oliver, Sorrell, Stackhouse. At least ONE of these guys, and maybe more, are going to have a bigger role in the defense than any of us are imagining"

Gannon's better defenses have gotten broad contributions in pass rush across the front 7. He's often had a smallish pass-rusher make big plays for them, too. Maybe there's a place for Oliver here. He brings a different kind of juice (read: bend) from the other guys in the OLB/DE room.

I agree that Brooks is a solid piece and he'll probably play for awhile in the league, but he's just not someone who is going to be a lead DT. I think he needs to be Robin to someone else's Batman. Brooks and Wyatt was a good combo over the first half of the season...then Wyatt got knocked out. With Hargrave around, I'm hoping those three can stay healthy and make a good rotating set up front to keep snap counts down on all three.

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splitpea1's picture

June 22, 2026 at 08:24 pm

How about Aaron Banks? If he can stay healthy and live up to that contract, it would be damn helpful for our offense.

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Leatherhead's picture

June 23, 2026 at 09:34 am

Banks arrived in Green Bay recovering from injury. He missed some time in training camp, and the first couple weeks of the season, but ending up starting 14 games for us.

I'm not sure how much of a "bounceback" is possible. He could starting 17 games, I guess. Or have fewer than 1 holding penalty. But by and large, I think that we're going to have the same guy that he's been for the last 5 seasons....a dependable starter. Not a Pro Bowler, but a solid veteran who can play his position.

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Starrbrite's picture

June 22, 2026 at 11:04 pm

Right LH—agree.

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TKWorldWide's picture

June 23, 2026 at 06:02 am

Is Tom’s procedure a challenging one to come back from? Worse than an ACL?

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Stik75's picture

June 23, 2026 at 06:20 am

Toms injury os a difficult one to come back from maybe even worse for an O lineman than an ACL. Immense forces are placed on that tendon when blocking.

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TKWorldWide's picture

June 23, 2026 at 06:54 am

Yes!
I hear Mark Tauscher on the radio all the time and IIRC he said the same thing. 😬
Incidentally, both he and Bulaga are critical of the “job sharing” on the O-line, like the way Morgan and Rhyan shared the RG spot in seasons past.
Additionally, Bulaga said he (himself) was a terrible guard (but obviously a very good tackle.) That is why I have high expectations for 77 at LT this year, regardless of how he played at guard.

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stockholder's picture

June 23, 2026 at 06:28 am

NFL OL are having shorter careers.

Tom's domination is done;
he will not get another contract in GB.

Concussions are growing.

Reed should have been traded.

Karl brooks isn't a nt.

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TKWorldWide's picture

June 23, 2026 at 08:10 am

Butt they’re our Plenty of nt Pickers!

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