Studs and duds from Packers' preseason-opening loss to Jets

USA Today

4 days ago

The Green Bay Packers opened the 2025 preseason with a 30-10 loss to the New York Jets on Saturday night at Lambeau Field. A review of the tape wasn't as bad as the live viewing, and a few notably positive performances could be found scattered among the three phases, but there's no escaping the fact that Matt LaFleur's team produced an dismal performance overall.
Here are the studs and duds from the Packers' preseason-opening loss to the Jets:
Studs
LT Jordan Morgan: The 2024 first-round pick played 36 snaps at left tackle and was nearly perfect as a pass protector. He didn't give up a pressure over 23 pass-blocking snaps. Morgan didn't face any big-time pass-rushers, but he still moved well in space and anchored better against power. An encouraging preseason debut for a player who is competing for a starting job along the Packers offensive line.
DE Kingsley Enagbare: The veteran edge rusher has played a lot of football in his first three seasons, so it was encouraging to see him mostly dominate his 32 snaps with the second-team defense. Enagbare was in on the fourth down stop, had a tackle for loss against the run and hit the quarterback once. Per PFF, he finished with a team-high run stops.
LB Kristian Welch: Not only was Welch in on two run stops at linebacker, but he delivered three different tackles covering kicks and had a crunching block on special teams. This is how the veteran must make the 53-man roster.
RB Amar Johnson: Including a 10-yard run that was negated by penalty, Johnson produced three different runs of at least 10 yards, including a 15-yarder and the 39-yard score on the Packers' lone touchdown drive. He's a bursty runner with good long speed. Johnson also forced three missed tackles, so he's more as a runner than just pure speed.
DL Colby Wooden: The third-year defensive lineman -- who is moving to nose tackle -- created an incredibly active 26-snap appearance. He produced four stops against the run, a batted pass and a few encouraging pass-rush wins inside.
LB Ty'Ron Hopper: Saturday's preseason debut is what the Packers needed to see out of the second-year linebacker. Hopper tackled well (nine total, zero misses), was sound against the run and held up in coverage over 35 snaps.
Duds
WR Mecole Hardman: Rich Bisaccia thought Hardman might have been pressing to make a big play while fighting for the returner job. On his first return, Hardman caught a punt at the 5-yard line in heavy traffic and was immediately stopped. On his second, Hardman tried to catch the punt off the bounce -- Bisaccia said he should have caught the ball in the air -- but muffed the catch, resulting in a turnover inside the 20-yard line. As a receiver, Hardman dropped a well-thrown ball from Malik Willis and didn't have a catch despite running over 20 routes.
OL Jacob Monk: The second-year interior offensive lineman was flagged three times for holding penalties, although Matt LaFleur clarified that one was the result of a protection breakdown around him. Monk also gave up a sack on a third down. He played 12 snaps at center and 24 more at right guard, but he was the third option at center behind Elgton Jenkins and Sean Rhyan.
LB Isaiah Simmons: He missed a pair of tackles and really struggled in coverage. A pair of completions over 20 yards were likely a result of his mistakes in coverage, and the 24-yard touchdown pass off a tight end screen got started with Simmons being blocked out front. The Packers gave him a couple of opportunities to be the "flier" on the punt coverage team.
QB Jordan Love: He played only 12 snaps, and at least two of his five passing attempts were dropped. But Love twice went to a well-covered Romeo Doubs, who couldn't make either contested catch, and he overthrew Luke Musgrave down the seam, missing what could have been a big play. Love also ran himself into a sack on a third down, his final play of the shaky appearance.
OL Donovan Jennings: Travis Glover's injury created a big opportunity at the bottom of the offensive line depth chart, but Jennings failed to make a big first impression. He struggled as a run blocker, got flagged for holding on 3rd-and-1 and gave up a pressure over 36 snaps at left guard.
WR Malik Heath: The third-year receiver dropped an easy one and finished with just one catch for four yards on four total targets and 24 routes run. Heath has been a standout preseason performer for the Packers during each of the last two summers. His 2025 exhibition schedule got off to a rocky start.
LB Jamon Johnson: The rookie played 25 snaps at linebacker and another 16 on special teams. PFF charted five total missed tackles from Johnson, including four defensively. He also gave up a 21-yard catch in coverage.