The Green Bay Packers have a number of very talented, high-upside young players on their roster heading into the 2023 season. If they want to surprise people this year, they will need those players not only to live up to but exceed expectations.
One of the players that the Packers will be counting on in a big role in 2023 is edge rusher, Rashan Gary. Gary was activated off the physically unable to perform list and made his return to practice this week with the Packers.
He was recovering from an ACL injury suffered in Week 9 last season in a game against the Detroit Lions. Before that injury, Gary was having a breakout campaign, ranking in the top 10 of multiple categories and leading the team with 6.0 sacks. His loss was felt, as he ended up finishing the season second on the Packers in sacks, with only Preston Smith registering more.
Heading into the 2023 season, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell is expecting some big things from Gary as well. He selected Gary on his list of 23 breakout players for 2023, putting him in the post-hype breakout category.
“Gary was on last year’s list as a potential Pro Bowler and was on pace to produce that sort of season before injury struck. He generated six sacks in his first six games, only to tear his ACL in Week 9 and miss the remainder of the season. Losing him hurt the players around him, too; the Packers’ QBR declined by more than 10 points without him on the field, while their pressure rate dropped from 40.3% to 31.7%.
The 25-year-old has started camp on the physically unable to perform list, so it’s unclear whether he will play in Week 1. Gary seemed on pace to land a deal toward the top of the edge rusher market, but after the injury, he’s playing out a fifth-year option for a little over $10 million. If the Gary we saw in 2021 and the first half of 2022 returns on the field in 2023, the Packers star should be able to land a new deal approaching $30 million per year.”
The Packers know that they need Gary playing at a high level for their defense to operate to its maximum capabilities. But, they will assuredly be taking things slow in the early going as he works his way back after a lengthy layoff.
There is optimism that he won’t have to be a one-man wrecking crew this season as well. Green Bay used their first-round pick on Iowa defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, who should factor into the pass-rushing rotation right out of the gate. Those two, Smith and Justin Hollins should make a formidable quartet rushing the quarterback this season.
As noted by Barnwell, contract extension talks before the season will be worth keeping an eye on. Gary is projected to land a massive contract, whether it be before the season or when he is a free agent in 2024. There is some motivation on both sides to get a deal done early, especially from the Packers’ perspective. If Gary picks right up where he left off in 2023, his price tag is only going to go up.
