Five Overreactions From Packers’ Victory Over Seahawks

The Green Bay Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday to close the preseason. The 20-7 final score and the 2-1 final record are irrelevant, but what happened on the field was relevant with roster cuts looming on Tuesday and the Week 1 showdown against the Detroit Lions on the horizon.

Here are five takeaways.

1. Offensive Line Must Step Up

They maybe weren’t in their preferred positions, but the Packers’ offensive line was kind of, sort of intact against Seattle. While left guard Aaron Banks and center Elgton Jenkins were out with back injuries, Rasheed Walker, Jordan Morgan, Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom – four of the team’s top six blockers – started against a Seattle defense that kept all its top players cocooned in bubble wrap on the sideline.

Those players played 18 snaps in two series for what should have been a mismatch. On nine handoffs to Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson, 31 yards were gained. That’s four top linemen blocking for the top three running backs and averaging 3.4 yards per carry.

In two weeks, the Packers will host the Lions, who will play their starters. Green Bay must get the running game cranked up ASAP.

The first order of business will be picking a starting left tackle. That probably will be Walker after Morgan was locked in at left guard for Banks the past week. How much time will the No. 1 line need to get ready?

“I feel like we’ve got some veterans on the O-line,” Walker said after the game. “I’ve played Detroit like, what, four times? So, I know what’s up with them. Jenkins knows them. Tom knows then. Sean Rhyan knows them. I’m pretty sure Banks knows them. So, just do it. That’s all it is, really.”

2. Best Position

The best position group coming out of the preseason is linebacker. Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie are back as the starters, and 2024 third-round pick Ty’Ron Hopper looks like a new man after what in essence was a redshirt season.

“Hopper, I would say he’s one of our most improved players from a year ago,” coach Matt LaFleur said on Saturday evening. “I think he’s done an outstanding job. He’s done a much better job communicating. He’s the voice of the defense when he’s in there, and so I think he’s done a really nice job. He’s still a young, developing player, but he got a lot of good work this preseason.”

Hopper, who had one sack and one forced fumble against Seattle, has been mostly locked in at middle linebacker since he was drafted but got some work at the other spots toward the end of camp, which will create some flexibility if he’s pressed into service.

Who will round out the depth chart? More on that in a moment.