The Green Bay Packers are still reeling after a surprising start to the 2025 preseason. The New York Jets came into Lambeau and smacked the Packers around, leaving fans with more questions than answers after the first week of the preseason.
Far be it from NFL fans to overreact to a preseason game, but the concerns are more than justified after such a dismal performance where starters and reserves alike struggled. The preseason is all about execution and seizing opportunities, and few Packers answered the call last Saturday night.
Of course, the good thing is that there’s always next week. It’s a great opportunity for a handful of players to right the wrongs from the opener and get back into the good graces of not only the coaching staff but the fanbase at large. After all, none of these players can afford another poor performance, which could lead them to face the NFL’s soon-to-be lengthy unemployment line.
Three Packers players are on thin ice entering preseason Week 2
Isaiah Simmons, LB
The former first-round pick has put in a solid camp, but it didn’t translate to game action Saturday night. Simmons, for all the hype that may have been unjustifiably thrust onto him for practice performances, is right back on the roster bubble for the Packers. If not for other poor performances at his position, he’d be in an even deeper hole.
Nonetheless, the Packers need the depth and experience Simmons brings. His signing this offseason wasn’t out of pity, after all. He has the athletic ability to push Isaiah McDuffie for the third linebacker spot, but so far, it seems he’s losing the battle.
Jacob Monk, OL
With all of the injuries and contract scenarios disrupting the flow of the interior offensive line this offseason, Jacob Monk should have been in a position to take some valuable reps and grow as a solid depth piece on Green Bay’s offensive line. After the first preseason contest, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
As underwhelming as his start to the preseason was, though, there is still an opportunity to rebound against Indianapolis next week. Monk has to clean up his technique and put some good film out there. After all, if he’s already lost the backup center job, he may have already lost a roster spot in Green Bay, so he might be auditioning for other franchises, too.
Mecole Hardman, WR
The Packers have a ton of young receivers, and most played like young receivers. There were far too many drops Saturday, and the injury to Jayden Reed didn’t leave fans any more comfortable about the position heading into next week. But at least those receivers are young. Hardman, a six-year veteran and three-time Super Bowl champion, struggled to get going in his debut with the Packers.
Hardman said after the game that it’s good to get the drops and muffed punt out of the way in preseason, and he’s right, so long as those mistakes stay in the past with a forgettable game.
Hardman doesn’t have to be anything particularly special on offense, but he does have to be the reliable return option he’s proven to be throughout his career. Snag a couple of clean catches in the return game and make a future used-car salesman miss in the open field and all is right again with Hardman.
Unlike the other two names on this list, Hardman is a bit further from a cut candidate. But that’s with the benefit of the doubt that he can rebound and show the consistency going forward fans expect of a successful vet.
