The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are set to make some noise Week 1 against one another, with the Lions traveling to the always-boistrous Lambeau Field to kick off the 2025 NFL season against their divisional rival.
We've still got several weeks to go in the preseason before we get any meaningful football played in the league, but there are still very meaningful storylines to follow throughout training camp - specifically, injuries that keep plaguing teams before they're able to take one snap this year.
For the Packers, that injury bug has now bitten one of their bigger free agent signings from this offseason. Nate Hobbs, the newest addition to Green Bay's secondary this offseason as a free agent, has reportedly undergone a minor knee surgery. The news was shared by Packers on SI's Bill Huber. According to Huber, the procedure will land Hobbs on the sideline for at least three weeks.
Packers free agent may miss start to season against Lions after surgery
In three weeks, Hobbs would then have to get back onto the field and into the swing of things in the Packers' defense prior to suiting up for a live game. That puts his ability to debut with the team in Week 1 against the Lions on September 7th in some jeopardy, although we won't know a solid return date until he's completely recovered from the procedure.
Hobbs finished up his 2024 season with 49 tackles, one interception, five passes defended, and four stuff yards while with the Las Vegas Raiders. He only suited up for 11 games with them last year, but his 2023 season with the team was proof that he could eventually become a solid, consistent defender.
He was signed by the Packers to a four year, $48 million dollar deal, adding him to a secondary depth chart that features Xavier McKinney as the head of the snake. Without Hobbs in camp, Green Bay will get a lengthy look at a few other unproven secondary defenders in their locker room, such as Carrington Valentine, Evan Williams, or Javon Bullford.
They also have a healthy veteran in Kaisean Nixon to help soften the blow of losing Hobbs for the rest of camp.
Detroit might seem like the only team suffering injuries day in and day out during camp, but there's clearly some question marks around health for teams like the Packers ahead of the regular season.
