Micah Parsons helping Packers' young edge rushers, believes in Lukas Van Ness
Yahoo News
Last updated: June 5, 2026
The Green Bay Packers face a challenge at the edge rusher position due to the youth and inexperience of their roster, particularly with Micah Parsons recovering from an ACL injury. This situation necessitates reliance on other players like Lukas Van Ness and developing rookies Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver.
- Parsons is actively mentoring rookies Sorrell and Oliver during his rehabilitation, providing feedback on their play and fostering a supportive environment for their development. Sorrell saw more action as a rookie, recording 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery, while Oliver appeared in only one game.
- Parsons is sidelined for at least the first month of the season due to a nine-month recovery period from his December 29 surgery, with a potential return in Week 5.
- Lukas Van Ness is expected to be the primary edge rusher in Parsons' absence. Despite a foot injury limiting his playing time last season, Van Ness demonstrated improvement in pass-rush win percentage and recorded 27 pressures.
- The Packers have exercised Van Ness' fifth-year option and hope he can perform well over the next two seasons. Parsons expressed strong confidence in Van Ness, believing he could become a fan favorite and potentially rival him in performance if he stays healthy and manages external distractions.
