Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness talks to the media during the 2025 Packers Tailgate Tour sendoff on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Several analysts and reporters has Lukas Van Ness as the player with the most to prove for Green Bay Packers this season.

The 2023 13th overall pick was not able to impress in his second year after his sensational rookie year. The proverbial sophomore slump happened to him and now, he has to work harder in Year 3.

The 23-year-old defensive end is aware of the pressure and he, too, believes that he could have a better 2024. Now, he is all about improving.

“Just reflecting back on 2024, going into Year 3, again, the expectations are always going to be highest for myself,” Van Ness said after the OTA.

“I push myself very hard, and there’s got to be stronger, faster, more sound with my fundamentals, and ultimately impact the game as much as possible.”

Lukas Van Ness’ back stronger?

His coaches and teammates know he can bounce back. Matt LaFleur described him as someone with more confidence right now.

“I just think there’s a different confidence level with him and I think the whole group as a whole, just our ability to get off the football. I think we spent a lot of time on that, and those guys have taken the coaching and embraced it and have really worked at it,” Matt LaFleur said when asked about Van Ness’ offseason.

Van Ness, who played three seasons for Iowa State and entered the draft as part of the 2025 Big Ten Second Team, thinks the offseason has helped him realize what he can do.

“As you said, it’s been a lot of adversity, coaching changes, broken thumb, and I think you just learn through those challenges and again, going into Year 3, having my first OTAs, a lot of learning, I’ve just been able to find some confidence in myself and my abilities and this is a mental game so youv’e got to keep that strong throughout the whole season.”