These Six Packers Must Continue Playing at High Level After Bye

The Packers’ passing game doesn’t force the ball to anyone, so it’s not as if Tucker Kraft is a go-to player. Nonetheless, among all tight ends, he ranks ninth with 16 receptions and third with 225 yards. 

Among the 33 tight ends who have been targeted at least 10 times, Kraft is seventh in catch percentage, first in passer rating when targeted and third in yards per route. He is second with 14.1 yards per catch and first with 9.9 yards after the catch per catch.

“If we’re going to be the best that we can be, we’ve got to get him the ball,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. “There’s no doubt about that. He does great things when he has the ball.”

Kraft is a playmaker in the passing game, an impact player in the running game and a team captain. He is one of the best tight ends in the game and one of the team’s most indispensable players.

CB Keisean Nixon

At the end of last season, Keisean Nixon declared himself “CB1.” There’s no such thing for the Packers. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has his cornerbacks stick to a specific side of the field.

Regardless, the zillion-dollar question at the start of the season was whether Green Bay’s cornerbacks could hold up against top quarterbacks and receivers – and there were a lot of them on the schedule.

That question still exists after the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott riddled the defense on Sunday night. But Nixon has been outstanding. According to PFF, 73 cornerbacks have played at least 100 coverage snaps. Nixon ranks 16th in completion percentage allowed (52.2), 33rd in yards allowed per completion (10.8) and 21st in snaps per reception (14.3). He has not given up a touchdown.

Officially, Nixon is second in the NFL with seven passes defensed. Sports Info Solutions has charged Nixon with only 11 catches allowed.

LB Quay Walker, DB Javon Bullard

Quay Walker, a first-round pick in 2022, had been a solid starter but, by his draft status, had been a disappointment in his first three seasons.

Javon Bullard, a second-round pick in 2024, had a tough rookie season as he struggled with a move to the slot and through a foot injury that required offseason surgery.

Through the first quarter of the season, they might not be the team’s best players but they are arguably the team’s most improved players, which is why we’ve lumped them together here.

Walker, who seemed to find his stride last year until an injury sidelined him for the stretch run, is tied for second in the NFL with 42 tackles. But who cares if those tackles are 3 or 4 or more yards downfield? Well, Walker’s average tackle has been 1.6 yards downfield, according to Sports Info Solutions, one of the best in the league.

“Quay,” safety Xavier McKinney said, “that’s a big ass dude.”

Bullard is fourth on the team in 20 tackles. In the slot, where he’s seen most of his action, he’s allowing 0.90 yards per coverage snap, according to PFF, down sharply from last year’s 1.43. He is quick to close and physical upon impact. According to SIS, he’s allowed 7-of-10 passing for just 48 yards.

As coach Matt LaFleur said last week, “I think when you look at just what we want in terms of our play style, he is the epitome of that. The guy goes out and competes. He plays hard. He’s physical. Pound for pound, if he’s not at the top he’s right near the top of the toughest guys on our team.”