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Packers’ edge rushers aim to prove themselves in post-Smith debut against faltering Bears

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Packers’ edge rushers aim to prove themselves in post-Smith debut against faltering Bears

Green Bay, Wisconsin — Under the guidance of first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, the Packers have seen an increase in turnovers, but the desired improvement in their pass rush has yet to manifest. The team has an excellent chance to change this situation in the upcoming game.

Following last week’s trade that sent veteran linebacker Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, Green Bay is gearing up to face the Chicago Bears. The Packers, currently holding a 6-3 record, will play their first match since parting ways with Smith. The Bears (4-5), who recently dismissed offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after a disheartening 19-3 defeat against New England, have struggled with their offensive line, yielding nine sacks in that game.

Defensive lineman Arron Mosby expressed eagerness regarding the matchup, emphasizing the importance of the NFC North division rivalry. “Our chops are going to be licking,” he said, highlighting the necessity for the team to make a statement in the division after starting poorly with an 0-2 record.

Despite having recorded 19 takeaways, which is one more than their entire total from the previous season, the Packers’ pass rush is still lacking. They have managed only 22 sacks, which places them tied for 18th in the league with an average of 2.4 sacks per game; this is a significant drop from the 45 sacks they achieved last season, tying them for 16th. Lukas Van Ness, a first-round draft pick in 2023, noted that the team is still in search of a significant breakout game. “I think we have a goal in mind of coming back from this break, and I think our best ball’s ahead of us,” he stated, referring to his own modest sack output so far this season.

The Packers’ sack statistics might be slightly misleading, as they accumulated a hefty 12 sacks across just two games: eight in a victory over Tennessee and four against Houston. Unfortunately, they have recorded no more than one sack in three of their last four appearances. On the pressure front, Green Bay has achieved a rate of 24.5% on opposing quarterbacks’ dropbacks, ranking 13th in the league, a slight decrease from last year’s seventh-place ranking of 24.3%.

The decision to trade Preston Smith suggests a strong belief in the potential of the younger players on the roster to step up their game. Although Smith had seen a reduction in playing time this season, his 2.5 sacks ranked him second on the team behind Devonte Wyatt, who leads with three. Since joining the Packers in 2019, Smith accumulated 44 sacks, placing him sixth in franchise history since 1982. Rashan Gary interpreted the trade as a clear directive for his fellow pass rushers to take advantage of the newfound opportunity. “Step up. Plain and simple,” he said, urging everyone to seize the moment and perform at their highest level for the remainder of the season.

Smith, after his trade to Pittsburgh, revealed that he had requested a change due to concerns about his role following the shift from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defensive scheme. Statistics indicate that other veteran players on the Packers are also adapting to this change. Gary, for instance, has recorded 2.5 sacks in nine games, a noticeable drop from the 24.5 sacks he achieved during his previous two seasons. Meanwhile, Kenny Clark, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is still searching for his first sack of the year after setting a personal best of 7.5 last season.

Gary remains optimistic about their performance, insisting that the crucial statistics will eventually follow effective play. “The numbers are going to come if we keep playing our fashion of ball,” he explained. The trade also opens doors for younger talents, such as Kingsley Enagbare, drafted in the fifth round in 2022, and Mosby, who earned his roster spot after an impressive preseason. They teamed up for Mosby’s first career sack during a loss to Detroit just before the bye week.

This Sunday’s game against the Bears presents a prime opportunity for the Packers’ pass rushers to showcase their potential. The Bears have had significant challenges protecting their rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, allowing an average of 4.1 sacks per game—the second highest in the league, only behind the Cleveland Browns at 4.8. “We all can hope for one of those type of games, a repeat of Tennessee,” Enagbare mentioned hopefully.

In other news, quarterback Jordan Love fully participated in practice on Wednesday after dealing with a groin strain during the game against Detroit. Cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), center Josh Myers (wrist), and safety Evan Williams (hamstring) were also limited in practice after missing the Lions game. Running back MarShawn Lloyd (ankle/hamstring) returned to limited practice after being on the injured reserve list since September 17.