The Green Bay Packers updated their depth chart on Tuesday, the first time that they’ve done so going into the 2026 regular season. For the most part, it looks accurate, based on our charting of preseason and training camp rotations, but there were a few things that stood out to me — so I want to talk about them today.
Disclaimer: I’m aware that the Packers probably put little to no mental energy into posting a public “unofficial” depth chart. A few things turned my gears, though.
Running Back
First of all, Kaleb
Johnson was listed as the Packers’ third-string running back, which may not be a surprise to some — because he just got here a week ago. Personally, I still believe that Johnson will be the number two ball-carrier in Green Bay while Josh Jacobs is out, as Chris Brooks, who was listed as a second-stringer, is more of a blocking back than a true ball-carrier.
Jonnu Smith
While Johnson just got to Green Bay and seems too low on the depth chart, tight end Jonnu Smith, who was signed by the Packers the same day that the team traded for Johnson, is listed as the team’s second-string tight end behind Tucker Kraft. Smith has played for head coach Matt LaFleur when they were together with the Tennessee Titans, but I thought Smith’s standing going into Week 1 would be more of a question mark, considering he wasn’t signed with anyone this offseason — unlike Johnson, who at least went through training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It’s going to be tough for the Packers to keep four tight ends active on gamedays (they have to scratch a minimum of five players from their 53-man roster), and Smith and Josh Whyle both overlap as off-ball move tight ends who are primarily pass-catchers. If Smith is already ahead of Whyle, who has been in the program for two years now, then Whyle’s time on the 53-man roster might be long.
Mark Redman, who is sharing the third-string role with Whyle on the Packers’ depth chart, is a blocking tight end, a role that is much more valuable than Whyle filling in as Smith’s potential backup. If I’m guessing today, Whyle is probably going to be inactive against the Minnesota Vikings.
Offensive Line
The Packers’ starting offensive line was listed as Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk and Zach Bako-Bewele (left to right). That’s not really the question right now. It’s whether or not Banks (tendinitis in his knee) and/or Bako-Bewele (coming off a partially torn Patellar tendon) will be able to play a full 60 minutes this week.
Rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton was listed as the backup center on the depth chart, but don’t make too much of that. If Banks can’t go, it’ll be Burton at left guard (and it’ll be Anthony Belton at right tackle if Bako-Bewele isn’t playing). Even if Banks can play, I wouldn’t be surprised if Burton rotates at left guard.
Defensive Line
We never got the opportunity to see the entire defensive line healthy and active this summer, either on the Family Night broadcast or for preseason games. Because of that, we’re not really sure how the pieces of this puzzle are supposed to fit together.
Devonte Wyatt has been a three-technique (a 3-4 defensive end role in Green Bay’s new scheme) his entire career, so we can plug him in as a starter there. To the surprise of many, the Packers bubble-wrapped Karl Brooks in the preseason and treated him as a true starter, and he’s another 3-4 defensive end type, not a nose tackle body.
On Green Bay’s depth chart, the team listed both Wyatt and Brooks as the starting ends, with free agent signing Javon Hargrave as the starting nose tackle, one slot ahead of Jonathan Ford. It will be interesting to see just how many snaps Hargrave actually plays at the nose this year, as he looked a little out of place filling in that role with the Vikings last season. For what it’s worth, Ford got the “starts” as a true head-up nose tackle this preseason.
The lone third-stringer on the line is camp sensation Anthony Campbell, who will probably be inactive in Week 1, unless Warren Brinson can’t suit up for action due to his calf injury.
Brandon Cisse
Two days ago we reminded everyone that rookie Brandon Cisse hasn’t been named a starting cornerback by the team, but I guess the depth chart release means that that’s no longer true. Yes, Cisse was listed as the starter opposite Keisean Nixon. Nixon has been handling the bulk of the left cornerback snaps with the first-team offense this summer, while Cisse and Carrington Valentine rotated at right corner.
Going into Week 1, I’m assuming that Nixon will play left cornerback full-time while Cisse will get the “start” on the right, even if Valentine rotates in some at the position. For what it’s worth, Cisse is the only rookie starter listed on the depth chart for either the offense or defense.
Returner Options
One of the most inaccurate parts of the depth chart every year is who they list as the team’s returners, but I think the choices they listed as the second-string options behind receiver Skyy Moore actually make sense this time around. On punts, slot receiver Jayden Reed was listed as the number two returner. On kicks, the second-stringer is receiver Bo Melton. Melton, who does a lot on special teams without needing the ball in his hands, is generally the “off-returner” for the team, a role where he’s deep in the backfield on kicks but really fills in more as a lead blocker than a true returner.
My question is whether the Packers would keep Melton as the “off-returner” if Moore ever went down (or was scratched), or if they would have someone else (like a J. Michael Sturdivant) fill in as the off-returner. I’m also unsure if Moore will keep the kick return job when receiver Savion Williams is activated off the injured reserve, but we have a few weeks to figure that one out.
