The Green Bay Packers need All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons to return at some point and anchor the defense, but there is another defining factor for Matt LaFleur’s team on the injury front: the team’s top playmakers on offense must finally stay healthy and get extended time on the field together.
Can the Packers finally get a full season out of Josh Jacobs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft in 2026?
From Bill Barnwell of ESPN: “We’ve seen all four of those players take over games and look unstoppable at times over the past couple of seasons. If they could all stay on the field together for 17 games, we would be looking at one of the most devastating groups of playmakers in the league. The Packers averaged 0.14 EPA per play with all four on the field together in 2024, which would have been the fourth-best mark in the NFL over a full season. But those four didn’t play a single snap together in 2025.”
The fact that Jacobs, Watson, Reed and Kraft didn’t play a single snap together in 2025 is an incredible piece of information. Reed hurt his collarbone in Week 2 and missed most of the season. Watson missed the first six games while recovering from an ACL injury. Kraft hurt his ACL midseason. And Jacobs was in and out of the lineup with knee issues. At every point during the 2025 season, Jordan Love and the Packers were missing a key part of the offense.
Because of the injuries, Barnwell ranked the Packers at No. 17 in his list of top WR/TE/RB groups entering 2026. But it came with a caveat.
“This could literally be the best one-through-five group in the league if everyone is healthy and at their best. Yet the chances of that happening explain why they rank 17th.”
Kraft is expecting to be ready for full time work by Week 1. Watson and Reed just got big extensions. But Jacobs is facing legal issues stemming from an incident this summer, so running back is a question mark. If the legal process moves forward in his case, Jacobs could face a suspension in 2026.
The key line from Barnwell: “If everyone was healthy and delivered on their expectations, this could be a top-five unit overnight.”
Hard to argue that.
Also, Jonathan Gannon’s defense better be ready for playmakers. The Packers will face seven of Barnwell’s top 10 playmaking groups during the 2026 season, including two matchups with the top ranked Detroit Lions.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Can Packers top playmakers all stay healthy in 2026?
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Kruse, Packers Wire | USA TODAY Network
