The Packers Need Lukas Van Ness To Step Up

The Packers traded Preston Smith to the Steelers for a 2025 7th-round pick. Green Bay’s edge rushers now include Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Aaron Mosby, J.J. Enagbare, and Brenton Cox.

Changes came to Green Bay in the past offseason: Joe Barry is out, Jeff Hafley is in, bringing a shift to a 4-3 scheme. Defensive linemen could now play more aggressively, put their hands in the dirt, and attack the football.

However, the Packers’ edge unit is underperforming in 2024. Rashan Gary recorded 20 pressures in 9 games this year. Last season, he reached 20 pressures in five games. Lukas Van Ness had five pressures in Week 1 against Chicago last year, but he has only six pressures through nine weeks this season. Green Bay selected J.J. Enagbare in the fifth round in 2022, and he has more pressures than their last year’s first-round pick.

With Preston Smith gone, the Packers will rely on young pass rushers. Van Ness and Enagbare will see increased snaps, but expectations are clearly higher for Van Ness.

Last year, Van Ness ranked top-ten among rookies in pressures, sacks, QB hits, and hurries. He logged a pressure in each of the last nine games of 2023.

In his sophomore season, Van Ness is struggling, much like the rest of the edge rusher room. Green Bay needs him to step up, especially with his likely increased role. For comparison, Will McDonald, drafted two spots after him, has 12 pressures and 4 sacks this season. Van Ness isn’t performing like a first-round pick, and that needs to change.

In his midseason presser on Tuesday, Brian Gutekunst addressed the state of his pass rushers after Preston Smith’s departure: “We need more from that entire group as we move forward into the second half of the season. I think we’ll get that.” He also noted Lukas Van Ness’s increase in snaps and expressed confidence that more reps will help him develop.

Van Ness is in his second year and adjusting to a new system, so like everyone else, he’ll need time to adapt. However, this doesn’t excuse his low production. Six pressures in nine games isn’t sufficient in any context. The Packers will need more from him moving forward.