The Green Bay Packers, despite what many believe, have all the talent on the roster necessary to be a serious contender in 2023. However, in order to do that, they will need Jordan Love to play well, rookies to contribute right away, and the coaching staff to put the players in the right position to succeed.
In addition, the team will need several veterans to bounce back to form in 2023. These players had solid seasons before 2022, but struggled or were injured last season.
1. Running Back AJ Dillon
2021 Stats: 803 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 313 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns
2022 Stats: 770 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 206 receiving yards, zero receiving touchdowns
How rough was 2022 for AJ Dillon? He had 33 less rushing yards despite getting one less carry. He also had 97 less receiving yards despite getting more targets (43) than he did in 2022 (37). The decrease in the passing game was due to the fact that he had seven dropped passes, which meant he only had 28 receptions compared to 34 in 2022.
Green Bay will need Dillon to be a more sure-handed receiver, especially with a new quarterback and incredibly young wide receivers. He also needs to stop getting tripped up so easily early in his runs. Dillon did state on social media earlier this offseason that part of his offseason program has been running while focusing on raising his knees higher.
Doing this will hopefully cut down on his shorter runs. Not having Aaron Rodgers constantly audibling out of running plays should also help.
2. Inside Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell
2021 Stats: 146 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, five passes defended, one fumble recovery
2022 Stats: 96 tackles, zero sacks, two interceptions, zero forced fumbles, three passes defended, zero fumble recoveries
A 2021 First Team All Pro, De’Vondre Campbell did not play up to the standard that he set for himself in 2021. Recently, Campbell revealed that he was dealing with an injury for most of the season and was not right.
Now, Campbell is healthy and is ready to remind everyone why he was named All Pro in 2021:
I was just hitting my stride this game starting to feel like myself after dealing with a nagging shoulder that I never told anyone about and then I injured my knee the next game in Buffalo 😔. I never question Gods plan but I’m feeling 100% healthy and everyone gotta deal with me https://t.co/lWbghdcK6J
— De’Vondre Campbell (@Came_Along_Way) July 13, 2023
The Packers’ defense is certainly better when Campbell is on the field. He missed four games last season, and Green Bay went 1-3 in those game, giving up 15 points to the Lions, 28 to the Cowboys, 27 to the Titans, and 40 to the Eagles. That is an average of 27.5 points per game. For the season, Green Bay allowed 21.8 points per game.
Campbell is a big difference maker, and if he has a bounce back season in 2023, the defense is going to be a lot better.
3. Defensive Tackle Kenny Clark
2021 Stats: 48 tackles, 4.0 sacks, zero forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 13 quarterback hits
2022 Stats: 53 tackles, 4.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery 10 quarterback hits
On the surface, the stats indicate that Kenny Clark was nearly just as good in 2022 as he was in 2021 when he made the Pro Bowl. However, this is where looking at other metrics and grading sites can provide insight.
According to PFF, Clark had an overall defensive grade of 66.4 in 2022. In 2021, he had a grade of 74.9. Obviously, Clark took a step back in 2022. He will need to improve again in 2023, especially in run defense, to ensure that the Packers’ defense improves as well.
4. Safety Darnell Savage
2020 Stats: 75 tackles, 1.0 sacks, four interceptions, 12 passes defended, one fumble recovery
2021 Stats: 63 tackles, 0.0 sacks, two interceptions, nine passes defended, zero fumble recoveries
2022 Stats: 58 tackles, 0.0 sacks, one interception, five passes defended, one fumble recovery
Darnell Savage is a bit different than previous players on this list because he needs to bounce back to his 2020 form as opposed to his 2021 form. Savage played so poorly in 2022 that he was benched for a while.
Advanced stats have also shown a pretty drastic decline in Savage’s play since 2020:
- 2020- 56.4% completion percentage allowed, two touchdowns allowed, 67.3 passer rating when targeted
- 2021- 64.9% completion percentage allowed, eight touchdowns allowed, 117.4 passer rating when targeted
- 2022- 68.2% completion percentage allowed, three touchdowns allowed, 114.2 passer rating when targeted
Now Savage is the only returning starting safety from last season. The onus will be on Joe Barry to play him in a position in which he can be the most successful. He is in his fifth-year option season, so he is going to need a successful 2023 campaign in order to earn a larger contract next offseason.
5. Edge Rusher Rashan Gary
2021 Stats: 47 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 28 quarterback hits
2022 Stats: 32 tackles, 6.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 12 quarterback hits
Unlike other players on this list, Rashan Gary is here because the Packers need him to bounce back from a season-ending injury, not poor play. In fact, Gary was on pace to have a better season in 2022 than he did in 2021 before tearing his ACL in Week Nine.
It is not yet known exactly when Gary will be back, but Green Bay hopes that it will be early in the season. The defense struggled mightily when Gary went down with his injury, and while Kingsley Enagbare and Justin Hollins provided some relief, they are not as good as Gary.
Other Green Bay Packers Players In Need of a Better 2023 Season
- Samori Toure
- Jon Runyan Jr.
- Josh Myers
- TJ Slaton
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!