Three Packers under the most pressure in training camp

The Green Bay Packers' first game of the 2025 NFL season isn't until Sept. 7, but training camp is here and preseason football is just around the corner. 

Green Bay's first preseason game is against the New York Jets on Aug. 9 at Lambeau Field.

This is an important training camp for the Packers. The NFC North is in flux and changing rapidly, presenting an opportunity for Green Bay to reclaim its spot at the top of the conference. 

For that to happen this season, though, several players need to step up their game and live up to their potential.

These three players, in particular, must perform as training camp starts.

Defensive end Lukas Van Ness

The 2025 season appears to be Van Ness's opportunity to "put up or shut up." He was selected 13th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft because the Packers believed he had the tools to be a superstar.

Now heading into his third season, he's notched just seven sacks over two seasons and has been largely underwhelming when he sees the field.

Green Bay fired defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich in January in part because the Packers believed he wasn't getting enough out of players like Van Ness and Rashan Gary. 

Just days after firing Rebrovich, the Packers hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington to take over the defensive line, so they're doing everything they can to give Van Ness a leg up.

Offensive tackle Zach Tom

Tom has slowly but surely become one of the top right tackles in football, and the Packers recently rewarded him with a four-year, $88 million contract extension that included a $30.2 million signing bonus.

He's now earning roughly $22 million a year, and the Packers will expect him to maintain his high level of play. A former fourth-round pick, Tom has started every game for the Packers over the past two seasons.

He'll be under pressure to keep that streak alive in 2025.

Wide receiver Matthew Golden  

The last time the Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft was in 2002. That was Javon Walker, who went No. 20 overall, but ultimately had a disappointing career in Green Bay.

The Packers are hoping that won't be the case for Golden, the 23rd pick of the 2025 draft, but he'll be under the spotlight during training camp. 

Not only will fans want to see him making big plays, but the Packers are going to have high expectations for him as well.