The Green Bay Packers front four struggled to get consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. As a result, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley had to make changes to his defense to create pressure. That included blitzing more often and taking a more conservative approach in the secondary. But the Packers pass rush has more reasons for optimism heading into 2025 after some new revelations came to light at OTAs. Here’s why:
Packers Pass Rush Has More Reasons for Optimism: In the Middle
At OTAs this week, Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark revealed that he played nearly the entire 2024 season with an injured toe. The injury was suffered on the slippery turf from the team’s Week 1 game against the Eagles in Brazil.
The toe injury compromised Clark’s ability to get burst off the snap of the ball and to change directions. He also lacked his usual power to move offensive linemen back at the beginning of plays.
“I wouldn’t even say it’s the speed,” Clark told reporters. “It’s just every step. You’re taking every step, and your toe is busted. It’s something you’ve got to deal with, but it is what it is. That’s done. Got the surgery done, and we’re moving forward.”
The drop in his play was noticeable. Clark had a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2023 and nine tackles for loss. In 2024, he recorded just one sack and four tackles for loss.
To his credit, Clark didn’t complain or use the injury as an excuse. He toughed it out and played in all 17 games for the Packers. Now, he is back and hopes to regain some of the explosiveness that made him a three-time Pro Bowl performer.
The Former First Rounder
The other Packers defensive lineman who struggled through an injury plagued 2024 was former first round pick Lukas Van Ness. The Iowa product suffered a broken right thumb that caused him to play with a cast for the first 11 games of the season.
“Playing defensive line, it’s all with your hands. When you’re kind of limited using the thumb, a lot of our moves are originated from that,” Van Ness told reporters at OTAs. “I don’t know if any of you guys have ever broken a thumb or a hand or anything, you kind of get a little bit of a mental block. It’s kind of taken me a little bit of time to gain some confidence again in using my hand to its full extent.”
It also limited Van Ness to playing the right side because he couldn’t use his right hand to move off blockers if he started plays on the left side.
Van Ness had a disappointing 2024 campaign as he failed to take a step forward in his second NFL season. While he managed to play all 17 games, Van Ness recorded just three sacks after recording four in fewer snaps as a rookie. He also saw his tackles for loss go down from eight to six and his quarterback hits fell from 10 to six.
Packers Pass Rush Has More Reasons for Optimism: Looking Ahead
The Packers now have more reasons for optimism regarding their pass rush. If Clark can return to form and Van Ness can stay healthy and take a step forward in his third year in the league, the Packers can get more pressure on quarterbacks from their front four.
You also have Kingsley Enagbare entering a contract year, which will give him plenty of incentive to have a big season. The Packers also selected defensive ends Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver with their first two picks on day three of the 2025 NFL Draft. They should provide more depth to the defensive end rotation.
Hopefully, the Packers front four will now provide more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. This could give Hafley more options with his coverages and make blitzing less necessary.
“It was on and off, not good enough, not good enough,” Clark said when asked about the pass rush last year. “Not good enough to win a championship. So, we’ve got to be better.”
The potential is there, but now the players need to produce on the field.
