Don’t Overlook These Packers Players Ahead of Training Camp
By GilMartin
The Packers open training camp in less than a week as the team is ready to begin the 2026 season. The team looks to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth straight season and to improve from being a seventh seed in the NFC to a true contender. Today we look at five players that may not start for the Packers but shouldn’t be overlooked by fans. They are not necessarily guaranteed a roster spot, but how they do will have an impact on the coaches’ roster decisions this year and could play a role on the team if they make the roster.
Edge Brenton Cox Jr.
Of all the players fighting for a spot in the edge rush rotation, Brenton Cox, Jr. has the most NFL experience. He will enter his fourth season but has never played more than seven games in any one year. His best season came in 2024 when he recorded four sacks in just seven games while playing just 35 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in those contests.
Cox clearly possesses the ability to rush the passer. Staying healthy and on the field has been a challenge for him, however. He will need a strong performance in training camp and the preseason, but if he does well, he could have a significant role on defense, especially before Micah Parsons returns to the lineup.
DT Jonathan Ford
The Packers signed Jonathan Ford late last season when injuries struck. Ford will now be in a fight for the nose tackle job. His main competition likely comes from second-year man Nazir Stackhouse and third-round rookie Chris McClellan.
Ford was originally a seventh-round pick by the Packers in 2022. He spent two seasons on the Packers practice squad without appearing in a regular season game. He spent the last two seasons with Chicago before the Packers signed him prior to the 2025 season finale.
The Packers nose tackle may only be on the field for roughly 20 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, but it is an important position when it comes to stopping the run.
Ford also gives the Packers experience on special teams which could give him a better chance of making the roster or at least the practice squad.
Edge Collin Oliver
The Packers barely got a chance to see what Collin Oliver could do in his rookie season. Injuries kept him out of action until the season finale against the Vikings. The fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma State has plenty of competition at edge rusher, but fans shouldn’t forget about him after a “redshirt” rookie campaign.
Oliver showed flashes of ability in his one game last season recording two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss in just 31 defensive snaps. Yes, it’s a small sample size, but it shows that Oliver could be an interesting player once given the chance.
TE Josh Whyle
Tight end Josh Whyle enjoyed a productive offseason. He stood out during OTAs and mandatory minicamp by consistently catching passes and making plays.
The Packers will likely keep four tight ends to start the season with Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave as one and two on the depth chart. They will also look to keep a blocking tight end and then one more tight end as well. Special teams contributions could determine who gets that final roster spot. Whyle does have experience in that area.
Whyle caught five passes for 36 yards and a touchdown in six games for the Packers. If he continues to play like he did over the offseason, the former University of Cincinnati star has a good chance of earning a roster spot.
Edge Barryn Sorrell
Barryn Sorrell played 14 games in his rookie campaign, and the Packers are hoping he takes a second-year jump. Sorrell is part of the competition for the starting job opposite Lukas Van Ness to start the season.
Sorrell had 1.5 sacks last season while being a part of the team’s defensive end rotation. He also had one fumble recovery, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits while playing 20 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in the 14 games he played.
He will fight with rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton, Cox and Oliver for playing time and a larger role in the Packers edge rotation.
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Comments (28)
SicSemperTyrannis
July 23, 2026 at 06:38 am
Our EDGE room before Micah returns, I hope to see 5 roster spots. If there are 60 defensive snaps in a game and they're split evenly, that averages out to 24 snaps per game each. This formula can be varied to keep legs fresh and for JG to exploit match-ups, utilizing everyone to their best advantage. I think that task will have an outsized importance on his overall success this season.
Once Micah returns it should be obvious which of the 5 has been least productive, and move him down to the PS.
Savage57
July 23, 2026 at 06:39 am
I've been a fan of BCJ for a minute. I hope he rewards Packers fans patience this season, especially in the early going in Parsons' stead.
Dude is just freaky strong.
TXCHEESE
July 23, 2026 at 08:24 am
Agreed. If he can perform like I think he can, he can be the man opposite Parsons on passing downs and allow LVN to slide inside.
stockholder
July 23, 2026 at 06:55 am
Cox, Ford, Oliver, - Don't have it.
Sorrel and Sutton must get the playing time.
Oppy
July 23, 2026 at 08:26 am
Re: Ford
Ford looked good last year after his late acquisition and before his injury. Not like a pro bowler, but he was solid.
Second, what does Ford’s play time have to do with Sutton or Sorrell’s snaps?
stockholder
July 23, 2026 at 08:59 am
He was on the list.
You never get elite players,
if you fill out your roster with
projects.
Coldworld
July 23, 2026 at 09:16 am
You mean like Van Ness?
Coldworld
July 23, 2026 at 09:07 am
If Ford can stay low he’d be a real positive. When he does he stiffs the run and gets in the backfield with regularity. Unfortunately, he’s too upright and loses leverage about 90 percent of the time.
As to the OLBs, what I hope is that we see a truly open competition in which contract and draft status are treated as irrelevant. We need the best rushers now to rise to the top and to determine if they can play the run consistently or simply be passing down specialists.
Cox is intriguing. He has a sack per defensive snap rate that’s ludicrously good over 6 regular season games. He’s not going to sustain that, but even if he can sustain half of it, he would be well ahead of the pack. He’s also got a freakish wingspan that gets overlooked. I hope he and others get a real chance to upset the expected order of precedence.
To say Oliver doesn’t have it is laughable. How can anyone know? He looked pretty positive against the Vikings when used not just as a pass specialist as well, but that’s all we’ve seen. He was only 6 pounds lighter than Parsons when both were drafted and is on paper slightly more explosive and agile. I seriously doubt he’s Parsons cloned, but he is still an interesting piece. Particularly given what Gannon got out of Riddick at the same weight in 2022. Let’s let these guys show what they bring not pigeonhole on the basis of draft status and old scouting reports.
golfpacker61
July 23, 2026 at 11:40 am
Oliver is one of the Packers wildcards this year, but can he just get healthy? He has as much or more potential than any of the Edge guys and he has a completely different skillset. He reminds me of Hasaan Reddick and Gannon got Reddick's best seasons out of him in Philly. It boils down to availability, just like with Lloyd.
TKWorldWide
July 23, 2026 at 09:23 am
Blind pessimism. You just made “the list!”
(Thx, Y2J!)
golfpacker61
July 23, 2026 at 11:36 am
Why?
PackEyedOptimist
July 23, 2026 at 07:37 am
Gil, congratulations on coming up with a somewhat interesting topic during the dregs of the dead zone! :-D
Ford is interesting to me; I was one of his biggest detractors during his first couple years--people always thought he'd be good vs. the run just because of his size, but in reality, he was TERRIBLE against the run.
HOWEVER, when Ford returned last year, he played like a different man. Maybe he grew up after being cut. Maybe he got better coaching after he left the Packers. I don't know the cause, but he was BETTER. The coaches thought so too, obviously, because they played him more than Stackhouse at the end of the year.
Cox is a mystery to me. He seems quite productive when he plays, but the coaches didn't put him out there very much. Why? Attitude? Locker room "fit?" Blown assignments?
A mystery.
I think Musgrave's #2 TE position is in peril. Whyle seems to be slightly better at everything, and I don't think Musgrave's draft status will save him this year.
Oliver is a true "wild card." Can he truly be "Little Micah" as a designated pass rusher?
I doubt it, but if he CAN... I think he'll have difficulty making the 53, but he DID play a lot of special teams in college, so that might save him.
TheKanataThrilla
July 23, 2026 at 08:14 am
Interesting comment on Cox as I am of the same thoughts. The guy seems to create havoc and produces when he is out there, but we seem to ignore him (when healthy). He slipped out of the draft I believe due to character concerns, so perhaps there is something we're not seeing in the locker room . My fear is we let him go and he flourishes elsewhere.
I am at that point with Musgrave where if any type of draft pick is offered, I hope he'd be gone. Kraft's injury probably delays that.
Coldworld
July 23, 2026 at 10:32 am
They didn’t put him out there in 2024 much probably because of the fact he was the last man on the roster and a former practice squad player. When they did he had a major impact and 4 sacks in 4 games. Last year he was, I think 3rd up in the opening game. He only played 7 snaps before being injured (severe groin strain), not returning till December 19th but was only probably fully himself by the first Chicago game at the earliest. 79 defensive snaps and 1 sack.
That’s about 8 sacks a season extrapolated to a regular starter playing 60% of the time. About half his rate in 2024. Overall his career rate is 5 sacks in 240 odd defensive stats. Projected over a full season at 60% of playing time, that’s 13.5 sacks. I’d take that. I’d take 8 willingly as our 3rd or rusher playing less snaps after Parsons is back if someone else is doing better.
That’s Van Ness’s career haul in over 4 times the number of defensive snaps to date and more than Gary got last year or all the other Edges combined, even adding in DE Wyatt to be generous (and he had 4 on his own). If that isn’t earning a decent opportunity then I don’t know what is. Hafley seemed to have recognized that before Cox’s injury.
dobber
July 23, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Cox played a pretty healthy share of snaps in 2024 when active under Hafley so, while we don't know too much about whether he did anything to land in the dog house, it seems that Hafley didn't have qualms about using him then. Remember, too, that there might have been a ramp-up period from his injury--which was pretty severe (tendon off the bone?)--that limited him in his first few games coming back.
The main beneficiaries of Parsons being hurt and Gary being phased out were LVN and Engabare. Cox was getting some snaps those last couple weeks and he played a pretty healthy share in the JV game against the Vikings. He only played a handful of snaps against the Bears in the playoffs, though.
"I am at that point with Musgrave where if any type of draft pick is offered, I hope he'd be gone. "
Unless they find someone or maybe two someones better, he's going to be in GB in 2026. He's not been anything special especially in comparison to his draft standing, but throwing him out for next to nothing is shooting yourself in the foot.
golfpacker61
July 23, 2026 at 12:55 pm
"I think Musgrave's #2 TE position is in peril. Whyle seems to be slightly better at everything, and I don't think Musgrave's draft status will save him this year."
I am in full agreement with you P E O. Musgrave has not panned out for the Packers. Not only has Whyle at least pulled even, he might be ahead now. Both Lachey and Whyle are better blockers than Musgrave, and Whyle was also a Top 10 TE the year we drafted Musgrave & Kraft. Maryland has virtually the same skillset as Musgrave and had much better college production, he could probably take Musgraves spot if we traded him.
Maybe a Musgrave trade for a young also under achieving CB like Deonte Banks-Giants. A change of scenery would be good for both.
"Oliver is a true "wild card." Can he truly be "Little Micah" as a designated pass rusher?"
He is similar to Hasaan Reddick, who thrived under Gannon. He needs to get healthy first, but he racked up a lot of pressures and sacks in college, while also having some coverage skills.
Cheezehead72
July 23, 2026 at 07:53 am
PEO got me to do a little research. I found out that Josh Whyle has a zero percent drop rate over 3 seasons. Yes I know he has only 51 total targets but you would think he would have dropped atleast one pass.
I will admit last year I liked FitzPatrick more than Whyle but after reading that I believe we might have to find him a place on the roster.
TheKanataThrilla
July 23, 2026 at 08:18 am
Who wouldn't want a Whyle Coyote on the Acme Packers?
PackEyedOptimist
July 23, 2026 at 08:46 am
:-D !
Cheezehead72
July 23, 2026 at 09:14 am
Very good but spelling is different. I will overlook that aspect because you brought in the ACME Packers.
Word of the day. Acme means the best, ultimate pinnacle of perfection or achievement.
Coldworld
July 23, 2026 at 09:26 am
Fitzpatrick was the least poor blocker of those not named Kraft. He’s still was a sub par blocker though. Whyle is another high cut Move type who lacks truly elite athleticism but is pretty good overall as a catcher and route runner, as long as one doesn’t fall into the trap of relying on him to win blocks. Willing he might be but he lacks both upper body strength and a low center of gravity compounded by playing upright. I could see him being more useful in a LaFleur O than Musgrave, but I could see Musgrave thriving elsewhere too, for all his limitations.
TKWorldWide
July 23, 2026 at 09:24 am
Lots of options at edge. GB needs someone (or someoneS) to emerge.
Coldworld
July 23, 2026 at 09:29 am
Which means the competition must be open and not predetermined. We can’t have a pecking order preordained by draft status, number of accrued seasons or blind hope. That in turn means giving the youth and less heralded as much if not more chances and against the best opposition you can find, not merely 4th stringers based upon predetermined hierarchy. That competition could be the biggest single thing our defensive coaches can do to impact our chances between now and the start of this season.
TKWorldWide
July 23, 2026 at 10:13 am
I get what you’re saying. However, I think coaches want to WIN, so while some of that draft status biz figures in, I don’t think it’s the whole story.
Coldworld
July 23, 2026 at 10:38 am
So let results in a truly open competition drive the order. Other than Parsons, there’s no proven starter of choice on the 91.
dobber
July 23, 2026 at 12:57 pm
There's just not a lot of data on some of these guys. If we use PFF as a guide for the returning players...
LVN is the highest-rated of the returning edges, but it's mostly built around his run defense (20th of 115 eligible). While he wasn't generating sacks, PFF actually rated him slightly above average in '25 as a pass rusher (46th of 115).
Sorrell didn't play enough to rank, but his individual grades were 62.1 against the run (average), and 54.1 as a pass rusher (below average). Cox also didn't play enough to rank, but his scores were 67.2 pass and 44.9 run. Oliver and Mosby also had limited snaps and were below average in both categories.
Someone needs to top the depth chart. It seems like it's safe to assume--given how few snaps Packer starters play in preseason--that LVN will be one of those two guys and its unlikely that he'll be unseated prior to September.. Cox or Sorrell probably starts out on the other side, and I suspect we'll see heavy rotation over both spots until someone wins a higher proportion of snaps or until Parsons comes back.
splitpea1
July 23, 2026 at 10:29 am
I would hope Whyle's spot is fairly secure, and would even go as far to say that he should be elevated on the depth chart. I would speculate that he could offer just as much or more than Musgrave in the passing game, and he is a better blocker. In addition, Whyle does have special teams value, whereas Musgrave does not. I just think Whyle is a better fit for the team at this point and should be given more opportunites.
Turophile
July 23, 2026 at 12:36 pm
Cox, Sorrell and Ford are trying to go from fringe players to rotational players. TE Whyle is already pretty much locked in as a rotational player.
More impoortant is how good Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Edgerrin Cooper, Matthew Golden will be. They are all pretty good now and have the potential to be ++ starters. Also, I'm hoping McKinney gets back on the interception trail again, this year.