The Green Bay Packers opened the preseason with a convincing win over the Cleveland Browns at noon Saturday. Jordan Love’s touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks gave Matt LaFleur’s team an early lead, and the Packers never trailed again in the 23-10 victory.
While the Packers fielded their starters against the Browns’ reserves early in the season, Green Bay’s adolescent talent and depth at the start of the preseason looked more impressive than Cleveland’s.
Here are three players on the rise and three on the decline after the preseason opener against the Browns:
Three up
WR Grant DuBose: The sophomore had five catches, four of which were first downs, including a fourth-down conversion. His finger-dragging catcher down the sideline gained 23 yards and set up a field goal in the two-minute drill. DuBose was also a willing blocker, both on the perimeter in the screen game and inside in the run game. When it comes to earning a spot in the lineup as a fifth or sixth receiver, DuBose’s arrow is pointing straight up.
DE Lukas Van Ness: The 2023 first-round pick was a wrecking ball early on. He cleared Devonte Wyatt’s pressure for a sack and also had pressure on an inside play that created a sack for Colby Wooden. Van Ness also had two run stops, including one in which he was a tight end but fell unblocked to a pass rusher behind the line. In another, Van Ness easily shed a tight end’s block to aid create a negative play. Overall, he looked menacing through 23 plays — exactly what the Packers expected from a player who could make a massive leap in Year 2.
S. Evan Williams: The rookie safety made six tackles, including an impressive open-field tackle on Jerome Ford and a tackle in front of the line on third down. He also committed the game’s only turnover on a devastating tackle early in the second half.
Three down
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WR Bo Melton: The unexpected standout at quarterback heading into 2023 has had a scratchy start to 2024. Melton dropped at least two passes, and a harsh evaluator would say he dropped three of his four targets. One of the drops was fortunate not to end in an interception in the red zone. He also dropped a pass on a jet sweep. One impoverished preseason performance won’t kill Melton’s chances of making the roster, especially after what he put on tape slow last season, but he’ll need to bounce back next week.
OT Kadeem Telfort: His second year at quarterback didn’t aid him earn a starting job. His 38 snaps at right quarterback were mostly disappointing, especially in the running game. Telfort is massive — 6-8 and 320 pounds — but he seemed to struggle against smaller, faster defenders.
Running back AJ Dillon: The blocking was impoverished on all four of his attempts, and considering he gained seven yards after contact and only two total, you could argue he did everything he could as a runner. Still, Dillon had three chances to get a first down after the Packers went to 2nd-and-1 and failed on all three, resulting in a fumble recovery on his only drive. While rookie MarShawn Lloyd left the game with a hamstring injury, Emanuel Wilson — last year’s preseason rushing champion — looked great en route to 67 yards rushing and a touchdown.
