Lukas Van Ness is expected to contribute to the Green Bay Packers’ defense this season, and spring OTAs could have given him a head start to deserve more playing time in the regular season.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Van Ness would get significant reps. The Packers took him with the 13th overall pick. Scouting reports on Van Ness indicate that he was coming into the league “raw” but had the potential for an amazing ceiling.
The Packers were a perfect fit for Van Ness in the draft. Green Bay has two solid pass rushers, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, for Van Ness to learn from this season. The Packers can rotate Van Ness in during games before he becomes a full-time starter.
The Green Bay Packers gave Van Ness 1st-team reps

According to Rob Demovsky with ESPN, Van Ness has already started to see important reps with the starting defense due to Gary’s injury. Demovsky wrote an update on Van Ness’ progress through OTAs. Demovsky wrote that Van Ness looks powerful now, but it was unclear of his potential before he puts on the pads in training camp:
“Van Ness has shown both power and speed as a pass-rusher, but it’s nearly impossible to know if that will translate from non-padded and supposedly non-contact practices into the real thing. But with Rashan Gary still rehabbing last season’s knee injury, Van Ness has gotten plenty of reps with the No. 1 and No. 2 defensive fronts.”
Van Ness needs those reps, as he could be thrown into the fire in Week 1 as a starter. Gary is unsure when he can return to play as he’s still rehabbing from his ACL injury. Gary isn’t the only Packers defender still out from an injury last season, as cornerback Erik Stokes has yet to practice. (In fact, Stokes is just happy to be walking again.)
Could Lukas Van Ness be a starter if Gary is still injured in Week 1?
The Packers can’t be sure where Van Ness fits at this point in the offseason. He needs to work through padded practices before coaches know if he can fill in until Gary gets back. According to Our Lads, Van Ness is penciled in as the Smith’s backup. Gary is the other starter, with Kingsley Enagbareas his backup. Justin Hollins is projected to be third in line behind Van Ness.

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The Packers would hope Gary is back for training camp. If he’s not, Van Ness could get more reps with the first and second team in July and August. Reports from those practices would be a better tell if Van Ness is a project defensive end or someone who can make an immediate impact on a defense that needs playmakers up front this season.
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