The 2023 first-round pick doesn’t have a huge role on the Packers’ defense, but he’s playing better over the past month.

When Brian Gutekunst traded Preston Smth in October, he specifically mentioned playing time for young players as part of his reasoning for the move.


And the Packers  have stuck with that plan, albeit in a bit of an unusual way. Smith’s departure from Green Bay has led to more snaps for Brenton Cox and Arron Mosby, but not for 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, whose playing time has remained essentially unchanged despite the depth chart ahead of him looking different.


But it’s true. Van Ness’s participation is essentially unchanged, only ticking up a bit in Week 14, the first time since Smith was traded that he’s broken 30 snaps in a game.








(click here for an interactive version of this chart )


Van Ness’s playing time as a percentage of the Packers’ defensive snaps hasn’t ticked up appreciably, either. He’s been below 40 percent of the Packers’ snaps in three of the four games the Packers have played after their bye (and Smith’s departure) again only ticking up in Week 14.








(click here for an interactive version of this chart)


But curiously, even though he’s not playing more, Van Ness is playing better. His season-long numbers are still fairly pedestrian, but over the last month, the second-year man is doing quite well for himself. Of his 13 total pressures this season, seven have come in the past four games, and his overall rate stats put him in elite company.






Lukas Van Ness - Since the Bye

(Min 40 Pass rush Reps)

Pass rush win %: 19.5 (8th of 79 EDGE)

True pass set win %: 33.3% (3rd of 79 EDGE) @pff  pass-rush grade: 90.5 (Elite)(2nd of 79 EDGE)
— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) December 12, 2024 









Should Van Ness be playing more, then? Ideally, yeah. You’d like your second-year first-round pick to be one of your core players. But if it’s working, I have to imagine there’s tons of incentive to change, especially since Cox, Mosby, and Enagbare are also playing well in their increased playing time. It’s taken so long for anything to develop with the Packers’ pass rush, it’s hard to advocate for changing anything. But if Van Ness can put things together, that might merit more time on the field — a welcome development considering his extensive physical gifts and draft pedigree.










Continue Reading @ Jon Meerdink 

Jon Meerdink wrote:

Trading P Smith is not something championship calibre teams do in mid-season....especially for a 7th round pick.

Originally Posted by: Martha Careful 

Trading P Smith is not something championship calibre teams do in mid-season....especially for a 7th round pick.

Originally Posted by: Martha Careful 

As it turns out, Smith wanted out of Green Bay. The reasoning was simple: He didn't feel he was very valuable in new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's 4-3 system.

"A few weeks ago, I requested a trade," Smith said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I didn't feel like I was being useful in the system. It wasn't catering to my play style. Moving forward, I wasn't surprised when I got the call.

"I got what I asked for, and I'm in a great place with some great teammates. I'm excited for the new start."

Maybe it's not what a Championship caliber team does, but it's what a team that respects it's players does do.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

So then...it would follow that if Jordan Love or Tucker Kraft or whoever wanted a trade, we accommodate that player. That is a slippery slope.

And why couldn't we trade him after the season to 'accommodate' him? Its not like we are using any potential salary cap savings to win now.

Originally Posted by: Martha Careful 

The Steelers had two healthy scratches for the game this week in outside linebacker Preston Smith and defensive tackle Dean Lowry(!)*. For Lowry, he has been on and off the inactive list this season depending on the health of other players. With Larry Ogunjobi returning to the lineup, as well as Montravius Adams(!!)** returning last week, there wasn’t enough helmets for everyone.

When it comes to Preston Smith, he joined the Steelers at the trade deadline in November and has been active every game since. With so many players healthy, and Smith not known as a big contributor on special teams, the Steelers went with Jeremiah Moon has the fourth outside linebacker instead of Smith.

Preston Smith inactive the Steelers in Week 17 against the Chiefs 



Green Bay traded Preston Smith for future cap relief and a 7th rounder. Preston Smith was a misfit in Hafleys scheme. Smith, an Edge rusher, was a healthy scratch vs the AFC frontrunner that has issues with pass protection at OT this week.

Gutekunst=#steelyeyedassasin

*Yes THAT Dean Lowry
**Yes THAT Montravius Adams

Originally Posted by: Mucky Tundra