The wait is finally over. The Packers opened training camp Wednesday, beginning the position battles and storylines that could define their season. Every throw, every rep and every one-on-one drill will be scrutinized over the next month.
Green Bay has championship expectations entering 2026. Training camp will show whether the Packers have enough firepower to make a legitimate Super Bowl run.
Here are the three players I’ll be watching closest throughout camp.
Matthew Golden
There may not be a player entering training camp with more pressure on him than rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden.
The Packers did not draft Golden in the first round just to add depth at wide receiver. They drafted him because they believe he has the talent to eventually become Jordan Love’s top target.
Golden does not need to dominate immediately, but he must quickly prove he belongs.
His speed has never been the concern. The real test will be whether he can consistently create separation against NFL cornerbacks, earn Love’s trust and handle the details required to play a major role in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
With Christian Watson still working his way back from injury, Golden should have every opportunity to make an immediate impression. If he takes advantage of those reps, he could add another explosive dimension to an offense that lacked consistency at wide receiver last season.
Training camp will be the first real chance for Love and Golden to build chemistry, and every connection between the two will be worth watching.
MarShawn Lloyd
Talent has never been the question with MarShawn Lloyd. Staying on the field has.
Lloyd entered the NFL as one of the more intriguing young players in Green Bay’s backfield, but injuries have kept him from showing Packers fans what he can actually become. That makes this training camp feel like a major turning point.
Josh Jacobs is firmly established as the starter, but the Packers still need someone they can trust with meaningful snaps behind him. Lloyd has the burst, vision and big-play ability to earn that role. First, he has to prove he can stay healthy long enough to take it.
Green Bay has added more competition to the backfield, which means Lloyd cannot afford another summer slowed by injuries. Every healthy practice gives him another chance to create separation from Damien Martinez, Chris Brooks and Pierre Strong Jr.
It is all about proving he can become the dependable No. 2 back Green Bay may need over the course of a 17-game season.
Lukas Van Ness
The former first-round pick has shown flashes during his first two seasons, but flashes are no longer enough. At this point, the Packers need Van Ness to turn his athletic upside into consistent production.
Green Bay has invested heavily in its defensive front, and Van Ness still has a chance to become one of the building blocks of Johnathan Gannon’s defense. With snaps up for grabs throughout the pass-rush rotation, this camp gives him an opportunity to prove he deserves to be on the field when the game is on the line.
Van Ness opened camp working with the first-team defense, giving him an early chance to establish himself before the preseason even begins. Now he needs to make those reps count.
If he starts consistently winning one-on-one matchups, setting the edge and creating pressure, the conversation around him will change quickly. More importantly, Green Bay’s defensive ceiling will look a whole lot higher.
What it could mean for the Packers
The first day of training camp never determines a season, but it often reveals where the biggest storylines are headed.
Golden has the chance to become Jordan Love’s next star weapon. Lloyd is fighting to finally put injuries behind him and carve out a meaningful role. Van Ness has an opportunity to justify his first-round pedigree by becoming the pass rusher Green Bay envisioned when they drafted him.
If all three players take significant steps forward over the next few weeks, the Packers won’t just enter Week 1 feeling optimistic—they’ll enter the season looking like one of the NFC’s most complete teams.
