The Packers opened the 2026 preseason with a 28-9 loss to Pittsburgh, which would be concerning if anyone with a functioning pulse cared about preseason final scores. Green Bay actually led 9-7 late in the third before the bottom of the roster took over and the evening became a live-action waiver-wire seminar. So CD Angeli and Jersey Al skip the faux outrage and get to the useful stuff.

Trey Smack was the obvious star, effectively going 4-for-4 with two 58-yard bombs and briefly convincing Packer Nation that kicking may no longer require ritual sacrifice. Kyle McCord also helped himself considerably, Jordan Morgan looked increasingly comfortable at left tackle, Lukas Van Ness and Brenton Cox flashed off the edge, and Jonathan Gannon showed a refreshing willingness to attack rather than spend August hiding the defense under a tarp.

Then there are the less soothing developments. Brandon Cisse looks very real, which is great unless you’re Keisean Nixon, whose starting job suddenly appears to be part of an actual competition. Jager Burton is making Aaron Banks’ return to left guard less automatic than expected. The reserve offensive line remains unsettling. Jaylin Simpson had a night he’d probably prefer deleted from the cloud. And Green Bay’s much-discussed roster depth may be less “deep everywhere” than “please don’t get hurt at certain positions.”

CD and Al sort through all of it: Marshawn Lloyd’s return, Skyy Moore’s sudden usefulness, the developing corner battle, the offensive-line shuffle, whether Kyle McCord has already seized QB3, and what actually matters heading into Denver.

Also, CD manages to bring up the championship window almost immediately, Brian Gutekunst continues to insist windows aren’t real, and two old Italians briefly derail a Packers podcast debating how to pronounce nonno.

Football is back. The score doesn’t matter. The roster questions absolutely do.

Welcome to Season 18 of Cheesehead Radio.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Packers fix.

Presented by Ticket King, Cheesehead Radio is back for its 18th season — your go-to Packers podcast for news, fun, and a little bit of frivolity.

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Be sure to join C.D., Al and Kelly on their regular jaunts through the Packers Universe. You can follow them on twitter (X) at @tundravision, @JerseyAlGBP and @ThatPackerGirl.

Cheesehead Radio is a part of the Packers Talk family of podcasts, serving up five distinct podcasts to satisfy the most fervent of Packer fans. Variety is the spice of life, so subscribe to Packers Talk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Packers Talk on Twitter and Facebook.

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