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When the Packers drafted pass rusher Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the bar was set high for the kind of impact he was expected to have.
After a slow start in his first two seasons, Van Ness finally took a sizable step forward last year, ranking 19th among 124 eligible pass rushers in pass rush win rate, but his mini breakout was undermined by injuries, as he was only able to play in 10 games.
Speaking to the media at minicamp earlier this week, Van Ness seemed frustrated by his injury-plagued 2025, and is hoping to put it behind him.
He said: “My goal for this year is getting back to really having fun with football and enjoying it, and I think I’m doing that. With this new defense, (there’s) a lot of versatility, allowing us to play free without thinking, and I’m just having a lot of fun."
“Two years ago dealing with my thumb, and this past year dealing with the foot injury, not the way I would’ve envisaged it going but that’s part of the game, part of football and I think I’ve learned a lot about myself internally."
Van Ness certainly enjoyed himself at OTAs and minicamp, putting in one particularly impressive practice performance where he was constantly in the backfield. Quarterback Jordan Love knows how impactful LVN can be when he is on form.
Asked what he thinks Van Ness has improved on, Love said: “The biggest thing with him is his get off. He was getting off the rock today and he’s got that speed that puts tackles in a bind.
“They’ve gotta make sure they’re getting off at the same time as him. If not, he’s gonna beat you around that corner."
He continued: “I’m excited for him and what’s gonna come this season. He’s in a great spot, he puts the work in, he’s a guy that’s always making practice hard on us."
Micah Parsons has been one of Van Ness’s most vocal supporters since he arrived in Green Bay on the eve of last season, and when addressing the media for the first time this offseason, the All-Pro pass rusher was once again bullish on his running mate.
He said: “Luke is someone that people sleep on the most and I don’t know why. I think by the end of the season if Luke stays healthy, I think he’ll probably be the (fan) favorite. That’s how much confidence I have in him."
“I believe in him, I think sometimes he listens to (the media) and that gets to him, but I think he can be as great as he wants to be."
Van Ness admitted it can be difficult to ignore the outside noise, saying: “Pressure is a privilege to have. You’ve just gotta believe in yourself and believe in what you’re hearing in the building and from your coaches, your circle and other players in the defensive room."
“There’s a lot of noise out there, a lot of distractions, and just focusing on the guys in the building and the task at hand, which is winning Super Bowls. I’m feeling good, I’m feeling healthy, I’m getting back on a roll again."
On Parsons’ support, Van Ness said: “I’ve learned a lot from Micah over the past year. He’s taught me a lot about how I can improve and work on my game. He’s a good guy to have in my corner."
Jonathan Gannon is taking over as defensive coordinator for the 2026 season, meaning Van Ness will be playing in his third defensive scheme in four years.
He believes Gannon’s defense will suit him, explaining: “It allows you to use your smarts on the field, kind of see the whole defense, make calls at the defensive line and be more involved, which I really enjoy. For me when I can verbalize what I’m seeing, it allows me to play faster."
Coming out of Iowa, Van Ness was a young prospect – 21 years old on draft day – with a lot of growing to do. Patience was always going to be required, but with his combination of elite athleticism and work ethic, it is hard to truly fail.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has been impressed with his progress, saying: “He’s shown a ton of growth. I think it’s reflective in his work of how he prepares, he’s always prepared the right way. For a lot of these rushers, it takes some time to get going."
The time for Van Ness to ‘get going’ is now, and so far the indications are that as long as he stays healthy, a breakout campaign could be coming. The Packers are certainly relying on it.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers relying on Lukas Van Ness 2026 breakout season
Continue reading...
After a slow start in his first two seasons, Van Ness finally took a sizable step forward last year, ranking 19th among 124 eligible pass rushers in pass rush win rate, but his mini breakout was undermined by injuries, as he was only able to play in 10 games.
Speaking to the media at minicamp earlier this week, Van Ness seemed frustrated by his injury-plagued 2025, and is hoping to put it behind him.
He said: “My goal for this year is getting back to really having fun with football and enjoying it, and I think I’m doing that. With this new defense, (there’s) a lot of versatility, allowing us to play free without thinking, and I’m just having a lot of fun."
“Two years ago dealing with my thumb, and this past year dealing with the foot injury, not the way I would’ve envisaged it going but that’s part of the game, part of football and I think I’ve learned a lot about myself internally."
Van Ness certainly enjoyed himself at OTAs and minicamp, putting in one particularly impressive practice performance where he was constantly in the backfield. Quarterback Jordan Love knows how impactful LVN can be when he is on form.
Asked what he thinks Van Ness has improved on, Love said: “The biggest thing with him is his get off. He was getting off the rock today and he’s got that speed that puts tackles in a bind.
“They’ve gotta make sure they’re getting off at the same time as him. If not, he’s gonna beat you around that corner."
He continued: “I’m excited for him and what’s gonna come this season. He’s in a great spot, he puts the work in, he’s a guy that’s always making practice hard on us."
Micah Parsons has been one of Van Ness’s most vocal supporters since he arrived in Green Bay on the eve of last season, and when addressing the media for the first time this offseason, the All-Pro pass rusher was once again bullish on his running mate.
He said: “Luke is someone that people sleep on the most and I don’t know why. I think by the end of the season if Luke stays healthy, I think he’ll probably be the (fan) favorite. That’s how much confidence I have in him."
“I believe in him, I think sometimes he listens to (the media) and that gets to him, but I think he can be as great as he wants to be."
Van Ness admitted it can be difficult to ignore the outside noise, saying: “Pressure is a privilege to have. You’ve just gotta believe in yourself and believe in what you’re hearing in the building and from your coaches, your circle and other players in the defensive room."
“There’s a lot of noise out there, a lot of distractions, and just focusing on the guys in the building and the task at hand, which is winning Super Bowls. I’m feeling good, I’m feeling healthy, I’m getting back on a roll again."
On Parsons’ support, Van Ness said: “I’ve learned a lot from Micah over the past year. He’s taught me a lot about how I can improve and work on my game. He’s a good guy to have in my corner."
Jonathan Gannon is taking over as defensive coordinator for the 2026 season, meaning Van Ness will be playing in his third defensive scheme in four years.
He believes Gannon’s defense will suit him, explaining: “It allows you to use your smarts on the field, kind of see the whole defense, make calls at the defensive line and be more involved, which I really enjoy. For me when I can verbalize what I’m seeing, it allows me to play faster."
Coming out of Iowa, Van Ness was a young prospect – 21 years old on draft day – with a lot of growing to do. Patience was always going to be required, but with his combination of elite athleticism and work ethic, it is hard to truly fail.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has been impressed with his progress, saying: “He’s shown a ton of growth. I think it’s reflective in his work of how he prepares, he’s always prepared the right way. For a lot of these rushers, it takes some time to get going."
The time for Van Ness to ‘get going’ is now, and so far the indications are that as long as he stays healthy, a breakout campaign could be coming. The Packers are certainly relying on it.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers relying on Lukas Van Ness 2026 breakout season
Continue reading...
