Three things to keep an eye on for Packers ahead of Week 1

As the Green Bay Packers finalize their 53-man roster for the upcoming regular season, attention will soon shift to how the Green and Gold will follow up their impressive 2023 season that saw the team come within arm’s reach of a Super Bowl appearance. The Packers will kick things off this year against a formidable opponent in the Philadelphia Eagles. 

If the Packers wish to give an encore to last year's season and potentially accomplish more, they will need to assess and fine-tune a few of their on-field components. A Week 1 matchup against a quality opponent like Philadelphia will allow Green Bay to evaluate its progression from last season in the early stages of the year. Ahead of that matchup, here are three areas that should be observed closely:

Who is the No. 1 Receiver?

Head coach Matt Lafleur is very confident in this group, stating during a presser earlier in camp "I want to vomit every time I hear No.1 receiver. ... I feel like we got a bunch of 'em." Last season showcased the team's depth at the position. When speedy wideout Christian Watson was forced to miss eight games due to lingering hamstring injuries, several guys stepped up in his absence. Rookie Jayden Red turned heads, accumulating 793 yards to go along with eight touchdown grabs. Romeo Doubs also helped shoulder the load as well, catching eight touchdowns. This tied him with Reed for most on the team. Entering the new year, it will be interesting to see what this group of receivers can do with Watson at full strength. It will certainly be worth looking to see which receiver, if any, establishes himself as Jordan Love's top option.

The Secondary 

The departures of defensive backs Darnell Savage Jr., Jonathon Owens and Rudy Ford will leave the Packers with a number of new faces on the defensive end this season. The Packers will lean on Xavier McKinney and rookie Javon Bullard to man the secondary. Last season, The Pack ranked ninth in total passing defense, allowing an average of 206.8 yards per game. The duo will be tested early as the Eagles ranked eighth in total offense last season. How well McKinney and Bullard adjust will be pivotal in determining if the Packers can achieve another top-10 finish in this category. 

The ongoing kicker saga

The Packers' dilemma at the kicker position has gained a lot of attention as of late. As speculated, kicker Anders Carlson was released following an up-and-down 2023 season. It appeared that the Packers had made a decision for the vacant position, opting to keep veteran kicker Greg Joseph on their 53-man roster. However, in another twist of events, Joseph was released in favor of rookie Brayden Narveson. With championship aspirations, the Packers will have Narveson on a short lease, closely monitoring him in hopes that he can close the door on their kicking drama.