Packers' Unheralded Rookie Surging Up Depth Chart, Pushing for First-Team Reps 1 Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley gives instruction during a drill with defensive backs on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis.

Packers created big problem ahead of Week 1

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 2:18 PM ET

The Green Bay Packers pulled off one of the biggest blockbusters in recent NFL history, making perhaps the most impactful trade in decades by acquiring Micah Parsons.

Adding Parsons, in exchange for what will likely be two selections at the back-end of the first round of the NFL Draft, and 29-year-old Kenny Clark has the potential to be a significant win for general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers.

But, even adding Parsons isn’t an infallible move.

Packers’ biggest problem ahead of Week 1 revealed

Parsons has the potential to be a franchise-altering addition for the Packers, but Week 1 may be more of an adventure than even Green Bay realizes after trading away Clark.

After all, the Lions are one of the more physical offenses in the sport, powered by Jahmyr Gibbs and the running backs’ 5.6 yards per carry average last season on his way to rushing for 1,412 yards and 12 touchdowns.

How Hafley schemes up the Packers’ run defense is going to be critical against the Lions, and it may be the biggest problem Green Bay faces.

“There’s no doubt Clark for Parsons is an upgrade overall for Green Bay,” NFL analyst Brad Gagnon writes for Bleacher Report. “But the latter’s situation could mean the move hurts the Packers in the short term. With the Lions and Commanders out of the gate, that’s a potential issue in a monster division.”

Keeping Gibbs under wraps could be critical for the Packers, and how Hafley’s able to scheme up the run-defense may hold the key not just to a Week 1 win but also creating more opportunities for Parsons to pin his ears back and get after Lions quarterback Jared Goff by taking away Detroit’s ground attack.

Packers created big problem ahead of Week 1 2 Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) catches a medicine ball during practice on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Clarke Hinkle Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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