With seven days to go before the Green Bay Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 regular season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium, here are seven things for Packers fans to know about Kevin O'Connell's team entering 2026:
1. Vikings have a new QB
Unlike last season, the Packers won't be facing J.J. McCarthy or Max Brosmer in the season opener. The Vikings are turning a new page at quarterback, starting former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray to open the 2026 season. Murray is 0-2 as a starter in his career against the Packers. At his best, Murray is a playmaker at quarterback who can extend plays or create explosive gains with his legs. But Murray hasn't led a team to a winning record as a starter since 2021, and his career passer rating is 92.2. Last season, Murray played
in only five games, and he hasn't appeared in a regular season game since Oct. 5 of 2025. Can he provide a higher baseline of play at quarterback in Minnesota, and is he more than just another stopgap?
Kevin O'Connell on Kyler Murray: "I think he's demonstrated what he's capable of, both the experience he has playing at a high level in this league, but also his experience now of coming in here being challenged. And I think he's shown enough to really project with the right prerequisite now of work for a starter leading into a camp that we can get the rhythm, the timing, we can get the mastery of our system and this year's system, regardless of what we've done in previous years, what we're going to look like, how we're going to play. There's different things and nuances that we're going to fit to what our players, Kyler included, do the best. And in my opinion, he's got the skill set and the abilities, not only just from a standpoint of accuracy, but his ability to affect the game with his athleticism."
2. Harrison Smith is back
A bit of a surprise before Week 1: Harrison Smith is coming out of retirement to re-join the Vikings for a 15th NFL season. A versatile veteran who knows Brian Flores' system inside and out, Smith provides an experienced veteran who can get everyone on the same page pre-snap and play from multiple alignments post-snap. While he wasn't in Minnesota for training camp, it's likely Smith will be ready to contribute right away in Week 1. The Packers will have to wait another year to face the post-Smith Vikings.
Back for more: #Vikings legend Harrison Smith is returning to Minnesota for a 15th season, per me and @MikeGarafolo, getting a 1-year deal worth $12.25M.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2026
The 6-time Pro Bowler & former All-Pro has a max value of $16.25M with playoff incentives in a deal done by @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/JDhFePqnzC
3. Gone is a top pass-rusher
The Vikings traded away top pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard, leaving a hole on the edge of Brian Flores' defense. He was a menacing rusher who made the Pro Bowl in 2024, but Greenard dealt with lingering injuries in 2025 and is now playing for the Eagles. Who will take over his role? Dallas Turner, a 2024 first-round pick, is now expected to be the go-to pass-rusher in Minnesota. Expect to see plenty of battles between Turner and 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan next Sunday. Last season, Turner produced 8.0 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Is he ready for a breakout season in Year 3? Andrew Van Ginkel is another productive player on the edge, and the Vikings also added veteran Kyle Van Noy to the practice squad. In a Flores defense, pressure can be manufactured via exotic blitzes.
4. Rookies on the DL
The Vikings beefed up the defensive line via the draft, taking Florida's Caleb Banks in the first round and Iowa State's Domonique Orange in the third round. Banks is loaded with talent but has dealt with injuries and inconsistency through his football career, while Orange was a favorite of Packers fans during the pre-draft process. Green Bay ended up signing former Vikings defensive lineman Javon Hargrave and taking Chris McClellan with Orange on the board in the third round. Will Banks and Orange impact the game in Week 1? They are not projected starters, but expect both to play snaps right away.
5. WR group adds a physical presence
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are a difficult duo to cover, and now the Vikings have a physical third option in Jauan Jennings, the former 49er who caught nine touchdown passes last season. Jefferson, Addison and Jennings might be the top 1-2-3 in the league, or close to it. And Jennings gives the Vikings a different flavor, given his size, blocking ability and red-zone physicality. Can the Packers' rebuilt cornerback room handle the challenge? Top pick Brandon Cisse and free agent addition Benjamin St-Juste will have their hands full in the opener.
Kevin O'Connell on adding Jauan Jennings: "You gotta be able to line up on third down, when you're one of the few players that might be single covered in man-to-man, you gotta be able to win, you gotta be able to make contested catches, and you gotta be able to do something with it after the catch. Jauan does all those things. I think Vikings fans are gonna fall in love with watching this guy play football, the passion and the physicality that he plays with. You can tell I'm excited about it."
6. Aaron Jones is still in Minnesota
Former Packers running back Aaron Jones is coming off a disappointing 2025 season (548 rushing yards over 12 games), but the 31-year-old playmaker is back in Minnesota for a third season, and he's currently expected to play a leading role at running back, along with Jordan Mason. While Jones has been productive in his three career games against the Packers, he's never scored against his former team. And the Packers held him to only 41 rushing yards in their last meeting. Stopping the run and forcing the game into Kyler Murray's hands will be a top priority for Jonathan Gannon's defense in Week 1. Another former Packer, Eric Wilson, is still an important player at linebacker for Brian Flores.
7. Watch the offensive line
The Packers weren't the only team to deal with offensive line injuries last season. The Vikings were forced to shuffle through multiple groupings up front due to injuries, and pass protection for the carousel at quarterback suffered for it. Will Minnesota rebound in 2025? At the very least, the starting group is healthy. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neil are excellent tackles, but the interior could be a weak spot. Watch how the Packers attack left guard Donovan Jackson, center Blake Brandel and right guard Will Fries in the opener. Green Bay's pass-rushers (see: Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave) must win battles inside because Darrisaw and O'Neil are tough to get around consistently. Brandel is the new starter at center after Ryan Kelly retired. View him like the Vikings' version of Sean Rhyan, a player who moved to center last season and is now the new starter entering 2026.
The Packer sand Vikings are schedule for a 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff from U.S. Bank Stadium next Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: One week to Week 1: 7 things to know about Vikings ahead of Packers opener
