Injuries have always been a part of football. NFL teams always claim to have a “next man up” mentality. The elite teams overcome their injuries while the lesser teams aren’t good enough to do that. We are just two weeks into 2025 NFL season, and the Green Bay Packers depth is already being tested. It’s early, but so far, the players called upon to step up when injuries have hit have done a solid job and have contributed to the team’s 2-0 start.

The depth on the offensive line was tested in Week 2. The Packers were without starting left guard Aaron Banks and starting right tackle Zach Tom. With those two starters unavailable, 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan slotted in at left guard while 2025 second-round pick Anthony Belton and recently acquired Darian Kinnard split time at right tackle.

The offensive line did a solid job against Washington. Quarterback Jordan Love was sacked only twice all game, and the Commanders defense recorded just four quarterback hits. Love had another productive game and finished with a quarterback rating of 113.9. He would not have been able to do that if he didn’t have adequate time to throw the football.

The Packers depth has also been tested at wide receiver in the early part of the season. The team has been without Christian Watson since the start of training camp. Watson suffered a knee injury in the 2024 season finale against the Bears and started this season on the PUP list. The Packers hope to have him back sometime in October.

In Watson’s absence, the wide receiver depth has been tested. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks have both been called on to play more often. Both players struggled with dropped passes last season, but this year, they have both played more consistently and have been a part of the Packers receivers by committee approach.

Now, the Packers will also be without Jayden Reed for approximately the next two months. Reed led the team in catches in both 2023 and 2024. The Michigan State alum suffered a fractured collarbone last week against the Commanders. He was also trying to play through a Jones fracture but had surgery to correct that injury on the same day he had surgery on the collarbone.

The Packers also had to play Week 1 without cornerback Nate Hobbs. The Packers added Hobbs as a free agent this offseason, but an injury suffered during training camp required surgery. The Packers were hoping to have him ready for Week 1, but he was still not healthy. Against Washington in Week 2, Hobbs saw limited action. Carrington Valentine stepped up and played more frequently in Hobbs’ absence and helped the defense dominate.

Ultimately, GM Brian Gutekunst did a good job of adding depth at the positions. At wide receiver, he selected Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft and doubled up at the position in the third round when he selected Savion Williams. He also signed Mecole Hardman who is presently on the practice squad.

Along the offensive line, Belton was a second-round pick in this year’s draft. When questions about the team’s depth arose during the preseason, he traded for Kinnard, who had won three straight Super Bowls playing with the Chiefs and Eagles. That trade paid off quickly for the Packers when they had to inset Kinnard in the lineup in each of the first two games of the season.

Last season, Gutekunst pulled off a similar move when he acquired Malik Willis in a deal with the Tennessee Titans after the conclusion of the preseason. Willis also stepped in quickly and helped the team win. He played in the final series of Week 1 in Brazil and then started in Weeks 2 and 3 against the Colts and Titans. He led the team to wins in both games when Love was out with injuries. Later in the season, he came off the bench to lead the Packers to a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars when Love got hurt again later in the season.

Between the well-timed moves by Gutekunst and the ability of players to step up and step into the lineup, the Packers depth has been tested and so far, it’s come through. It will have to continue to do so if the Pack hopes to realize it’s goals and compete for a Super Bowl title this season.