The Green Bay Packers missed Rashan Gary last year after an ACL tear. However, the star pass rusher is ready to come back and lead the Packers’ defense. Gary was on his way to a career year and potentially a Pro Bowl nod. Rahsan Gary will welcome a new piece to the pass rush group with first-round pick Lukas Van Ness. Gary had some praise for the rookie during the team’s minicamp.
Lukas Van Ness’ Impact On The Green Bay Packers
Rashan Gary says rookie EDGE Lukas Van Ness is the type you want ⤵️
“He’s going to be one hell of a player for us.”
#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/wC4uLZt6B2
— Hogg (@HoggNFL) June 15, 2023
“We call him Hercules. It’s all in his name. Great effort, very strong and all ripped man, he’s hungry for knowledge. When we see a kid like that, that’s young, that’s hungry for knowledge and doesn’t think he’s got it made, that’s the type of kid we want. That’s the type of kids we have been grabbing. Lukas, he’s going to be one hell of a player for us.”
-Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary is clearly pleased with Van Ness so far and thinks he could be an immediate contributor. Gary has an interesting perspective when it comes to a player like Lukas Van Ness. Like Gary, Van Ness comes to the team as a versatile pass rusher when the team already has two established edge rushers. When Gary joined the Packers the team had just signed Preston and Za’Darius Smith. Gary had limited reps but made the most of them.
Van Ness joins the team when Rashan Gary and Preston Smith seem to have a hold on starting jobs. However, Brian Gutekunst has compared Van Ness’ skillset to Za’Darius Smith’s. He has the ability to play multiple positions and could see a lot of playing time as a result.
Green Bay Packers Defense
The Green Bay Packers defense, unlike the offense, is not much of a mystery. The team is returning almost all of its starters and added young talent through the draft. They will also be getting players like Rashan Gary and Eric Stokes back from injury.
The defense has all the pieces to be great and played well to close the season. Joe Barry will have to put his star players in a position to succeed. In previous years the defense has been hyped up in the offseason and then seems to underperform. In 2023 the defense will have to step up even more. Jordan Love is going to have growing pains and a good defense will be key to keeping the Green Bay Packers competitive in 2023.
As Always
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