Packers' Micah Parsons is all-in on Edgerrin Cooper 1 Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (56) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Packers have sneaky reason for optimism in 2026

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Jan 14, 2026 5:10 AM ET

The Packers‘ season didn’t end the way many in Green Bay had hoped, or two months ago expected.

Injuries to the likes of All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, emerging star tight end Tucker Kraft, and run-stuffer Devonte Wyatt derailed a promising season that culminated in an NFC Wild Card loss to the bitter rival Chicago Bears, at Soldier Field.

However, with one Super Bowl quest cut short, Green Bay has a big reason for optimism entering the 2026 season.

Packers remain one of the NFL’s youngest rosters

Over at CBS Sports, Zachary Pereles ranked each team that lost during Wild Card Weekend’s chances of returning to the postseason in 2026, with the Packers taking the top spot, thanks to one critical reason.

“The Packers were the NFL’s youngest team for the second year in a row,” Pereles points out for CBS. “They have a ton of young and in-their-prime talent. Love is coming off the best year of his career. A return to the playoffs should be the low end of the Packers’ 2026 projections.”

Every team, every year, is different but the Packers have a youthful core that should make up the key pieces of the roster for years to come.

Quarterback Jordan Love is entering just his third season as the starter, Matthew Golden is entering his second season at wide receiver, and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is an ascending star and anchor of the defensive front seven.

Given that injuries and poor injury luck largely derailed Green Bay’s chances at making a Super Bowl run in 2025, the young pieces in place in 2026 should be enough to raise the expectations back to that level next fall.

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

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