The Green Bay Packers got back in the win column on Sunday with a victory over a depleted Buccaneers squad, but it didn’t come without a price.

Today we’ll discuss the impact players, the team’s continued lack of discipline, and yet another big time injury.

Rising Stars

In my opinion, the Green Bay Packers have two players to thank for their improvement to 2-2: Evan Williams and Trey Smack.

Williams has been elevating his game every season in his young career, and at this point, I’d argue that his footprint on the team’s success has begun to rival Xavier McKinney’s.

That’s not to pit them against each other, as they are truly the perfect pairing for this team, but 2026 could be Williams’ year to take up the All-Pro mantle.

On Sunday, Williams tallied seven tackles, including his first career sack on the game-sealing drive.

He also provided the pressure that caused Tampa Bay to turn it over on downs on their final play, and if that wasn’t enough, he added a diving interception to his performance as well, something that he’s seemed to become quite adept at.

Without Williams’ contributions, especially after the loss of Edgerrin Cooper, the Packers would have blown yet another double digit lead.

As for Trey?

Well, his fifty-eight yard field goal to wrap up the first half ended up being the difference, and for all the strife we’ve experienced in the past few years at the position, there’s not much more we could ask for.

This kid has it, and if things continue to go well, he’ll likely be kicking in the Green and Gold for a very long time.

Outside of those two players, here’s also something to be said for the new look offensive line, who only allowed Jordan Love to get hit twice on Sunday.

Travis Glover looked serviceable at right guard, and overall, the unit allowed the offense to find its first semblance of rhythm.

With Kevin Zeitler waiting in the wings, it seems like at least one position group will be on the up and up heading into week five.

Unfortunately for this team, one step forward has also meant two steps back.

Losing Focus

The Green Bay Packers are one of the NFL’s most undisciplined teams.

It feels like that fact has been talked to death already, dating back to the end of last season, but every game, it becomes more and more apparent.

When Jordan Love finally gets the chance to stand comfortably in the pocket, his receivers drop wide open balls.

When the offense finally starts to get into a groove, the lineman commit penalties pre-snap.

When the running game finally sees its first gasp of air all season, the backs fumble at the goal line.

There’s a comedy of errors each and every week, and the gauntlet that is our remaining schedule will absolutely punish that.

As I mentioned last week, I think a lot of the mistakes come down to coaching and culture, and these Packers don’t get to utilize the excuse of being young anymore.

This team is supposed to be in a Super Bowl window.

The chances of that happening this season are already bleak, but what good is a group that doesn’t seem to take its product seriously at times?

If Green Bay is going to hoist the Lombardi trophy any time soon, it will be with many members of the core who are already here.

If changes aren’t made at the foundational level, these same things will continue to happen, even with our best at full strength.

A few additions in the draft or free agency won’t magically make the issues go away, and neither will time or reps.

The Packers have already seen some success from moving on from a few supporting staff, and that will likely have to continue.

If we’re being honest, it’s already time for a change at the top.

Outlawed

The scene in Tampa Bay this past weekend felt a lot like Mile High for the Green Bay Packers.

This year’s squad is obviously in a completely different position than that one was, but the devastation is all too familiar.

Seeing Edgerrin Cooper go down with his Achilles injury incited the same pit in my stomach that we all experienced after Micah Parsons got hurt, and although all teams deal with injuries, it’s starting to feel like there’s something special out for the Packers.

In just four games, we’ve lost three critical players to season-ending injury, two of which were just returning from issues they struggled with last season.

It’s been gut punch after gut punch to go along with the team’s subpar play, and it couldn’t have happened to a more impactful player.

Edgerrin Cooper has been the heart and soul of this defense in Micah’s absence, and now, there’s a gaping hole.

Cooper’s speed and tenacity are unmatched at the position, and his trajectory was pointing him toward an All-Pro season.

The twenty-four year old found himself in conversations with Fred Warner, and now, it’s hard to imagine that he’ll ever be the same player, due to how Achilles injuries affect burst.

In the short term, the Green Bay Packers will have to rely on Ty’Ron Hopper, who has underachieved as a third round pick.

Even when Micah is able to return, I think this loss relegates the unit to being average at best, even if the replacements step up.

Jonathan Gannon built a lot of his early-season scheme around Cooper, and it’ll be back to the drawing board from here.

We’ll hope for continued results from other players, but with a young and talented player like this, it’s truly disheartening.

My thoughts are with Cowboy Coop.