GREEN BAY – Consider Jordan Love just fine with not entering Lambeau Field to the roar of the crowd for Sunday’s season opener against the Lions.
Normally the last Packers player introduced when it’s the offensive starters’ turn to come out of the tunnel one-by-one, the quarterback knows there’s a new teammate by the name of Micah Parsons who will fire up the crowd even more.
“They gotta do defense,” Love said of the pregame intros, which always feature one side of the ball or the other. “Micah last, you know what I mean? Crowd’s gonna go crazy. I already see it.
“Defense go out there first. Get a three-and-out. Micah get a sack on third down. I already see it.”
While Parsons’ status for Sunday’s game remains uncertain due to a back injury that is limiting him in practice, Head Coach Matt LaFleur is “certainly hopeful” he can play.
Just how much after missing all of training camp is another question, but there are no concerns about Parsons picking up a new playbook, especially when at first he’ll just be absorbing specific game plans, which are only a portion of the larger scheme.
Meetings between Parsons and the coaches remain ongoing, and all signs are encouraging there.
“He’s got an extremely high football IQ,” LaFleur said. “You can just tell sitting down with him for even a limited time, this guy’s a smart guy. So I don’t think he’ll have any issues. I think he’s got a high capacity.”
But the three-time All-Pro Parsons isn’t the only big defensive change in this matchup compared to last year.
Detroit is adding – or more accurately returning – a star pass rusher of its own in fourth-year pro Aidan Hutchinson, who missed both Packers-Lions meetings last year due to a broken leg that ended his season in mid-October.
Hutchinson has done his share of damage against the Packers in the past, racking up 3½ sacks and an interception in his first three career games against Green Bay, all Lions wins, before the Packers contained him in their Thanksgiving 2023 win at Detroit.
Beyond the stats, the timing of Hutchinson’s big plays against Green Bay have provided maximum impact.
As a rookie in 2022, his interception came on fourth-and-goal at the 1 when QB Aaron Rodgers was trying to complete a pass to David Bakhtiari on a tackle-eligible play. Then in the rematch in Week 18, when the Lions knocked the Packers out of the playoff picture, he had a pair of third-down sacks in or near the red zone that forced Green Bay to settle for field goals.
The following year, in the first meeting in ’23, he sacked Love on the Packers’ second snap of the game, after Green Bay got an early turnover in the red zone. Again, it stopped a potential touchdown drive and led to a field goal.
With 7½ sacks in the first five games last season, Hutchinson might’ve been on his way to Defensive Player of the Year honors had he not gotten hurt. That’s the player the Packers expect to see Sunday as the 2022 first-round pick resumes his young but already impressive career.
“It shows up all over the tape, in both run game and in the pass game,” LaFleur said. “That’s pretty special to have a guy that’s capable of doing that. He’s a relentless competitor. He causes a lot of havoc.”
Love vowed the Packers will have a plan for him, and be ready for wherever he lines up.
“You gotta respect him,” right guard Sean Rhyan said. “He’s a real good player. I’ll leave it at that.”
Parsons is plenty good, too, obviously, bringing an even bigger spotlight to an opener that already had a lot of hype and importance. Now it’s expected to feature not one but two of the premier edge rushers from across the NFL.
“It gives us a big jolt,” Love said of acquiring Parsons. “Everybody was excited, just because we know what type of player he is. Some exciting things can happen.”
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