The Green Bay Packers kicked off their 2026 season on Sunday with a 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. For the first three and a half quarters, it looked like the Packers were cruising toward a 1-0 start. However, they kept the door open for the Vikings, who stormed back by scoring 29 unanswered points in the second half to claim victory. Green Bay has now lost six straight games dating back to last season, and will be on the road again next week against a 1-0 New York Jets team. But before we look ahead, let's identify some standouts before we officially put this monumental Week 1 collapse to bed.
CB Keisean Nixon
Nixon ended up starting in Week 1 despite being demoted to the third-team defense at one point during training camp. The veteran corner immediately
set the tone by stuffing former Packers running back Aaron Jones for a 1-yard loss on the opening play. On the very next play, Nixon picked off Kyler Murray, which Green Bay turned into a 59-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. During the second quarter, Nixon rushed on a blitz and combined for a sack with Jonathan Ford. It was as good a start as you'd hope for from a player who less than a month ago appeared to be falling down the depth chart.
LOUD NOISES
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 13, 2026
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/Ae47ZW9GUQ
WR Christian Watson
Fresh off a new four-year contract extension, Watson wasted no time making the Packers happy with that financial decision. His first catch of the season was an 81-yard catch-and-run for the team’s first touchdown. Watson would go on to haul in five more passes for a game-high 147 yards and add another touchdown to his stat line for good measure. Talent has never been an issue for Watson. If he can stay healthy and be a consistent threat, it's no debate who is Green Bay's No. 1 wide receiver.
WATSON TD!
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 13, 2026
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/NVEU4ikenf
WR Bo Melton
On Friday, the Packers released Melton so they could re-sign him to the practice squad and elevate him on game day. After Minnesota kicked a field goal to cut its deficit to 9-3, Melton responded by returning the ensuing kickoff 59 yards, setting up a Trey Smack field goal to get Green Bay's lead back to nine. He also downed a punt inside the five and contributed to the team's second touchdown drive with a 10-yard reception resulting in a first down. Melton's journey in the NFL has been anything but conventional, but the receiver-turned-cornerback who then converted back to receiver again continues to prove Green Bay right for keeping him around.
LB Edgerrin Cooper
With Micah Parsons set to miss the first four games of the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, it appears Cooper will assume the role as the Packers' best defensive player. Cooper teleported all over U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, tying for the team lead with seven tackles, including a sack. He should've had sacks on back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter, but the second was negated by a third-down illegal contact penalty by Javon Bullard. Now in his third season, Cooper looks like he's ready to assert himself as one of the best off-ball linebackers in the league.
QB Jordan Love
Playing behind an offensive line that couldn't stop a nosebleed, Love still managed to throw for 387 yards and two touchdowns. When he had time, he connected on big plays to Watson, Tucker Kraft, Matthew Golden, and Jonnu Smith. The offensive output wasn't consistent over the course of the game, but you can't put much of it on Love. According to Pro Football Focus, he was pressured on 25 of 46 dropbacks and took 15 hits. There were a few throws Love would probably like to have back, and he failed to execute a successful QB sneak on a crucial fourth-and-1, but this game will be remembered more for its porous pass protection than any of Love's mistakes.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 5 standouts from Packers' Week 1 loss to the Vikings
