Kyler Murray will face his old coach from the Arizona Cardinals. Harrison Smith is suddenly back. The Green Bay Packers won’t have Micah Parsons or Josh Jacobs. Those are examples of the high-level stuff between the Minnesota Vikings and their foremost foe in Week 1.
Here’s the under-the-radar stuff. And it’s especially important because Week 1 is so close you can taste it.
Nitty Gritty Details to Watch in Vikings-Packers
1. A New Kicker for the Packers
The era of Mason Crosby’s stability is long gone. The Packers, to an extent, feel like Vikings of yesteryear by trying to nail down the kicker spot.
Green Bay is rolling into Week 1 with a rookie kicker, Trey Smack, after moving on from Brandon McManus. Smack was perfect in the preseason, drilling all nine field-goal attempts. Two came from beyond 55 yards. It was a nice way to introduce himself.
Still, kicking at U.S. Bank Stadium in an NFC North game feels different than in August. Smack made 82.8% of his field goals at Florida, so the leg is legit. The nerves remain an unknown. If this game turns into a one-score grinder, Minnesota may test the rookie under pressure.
2. The Frank Smith Show Begins
Minnesota hired Smith from the Miami Dolphins this offseason, where he led Mike McDaniel’s offense for four years. Allegedly, he’s supposed to bring advanced rushing offense methods to the table.
Smith is not calling plays, but his fingerprints should finally show up. Minnesota hired him as assistant head coach after his Miami offenses leaned on motion and a more varied rushing menu. Training camp already hinted at more pistol work and a vertical wide-zone flavor.
Now comes the test. Kevin O’Connell still owns the offense, yet Smith was brought in to help fix a rushing attack that has been too ordinary – – straight mediocre and not a priority – – for too long. If Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason starts chewing up Green Bay, Smith’s influence will become obvious quickly. Week 1 is the first real public reveal.
3. The Jonnu Smith Factor
Green Bay just signed Smith, a wily veteran, and if Tucker Kraft doesn’t play a whole snap load, he’ll be a wonderful alternate option.
Smith caught 88 passes for Miami in 2024 and played in a Matt LaFleur offense during their Tennessee days.
The 31-year-old TE can line up all over the formation and create awkward coverage choices. Minnesota already has enough to worry about with Kraft. Adding another athletic tight end makes the middle of Brian Flores’s defense more interesting than advertised. Smith could factor in right away.
4. Blake Brandel
Brandel has never embarked on a regular season as a starting NFL center, but the Vikings are trusting him with precisely that in 2026.
Green Bay will provide Brandel’s first exam. Brandel must identify fronts and keep Murray clean while managing an offensive line that is finally healthy. That’s a lot of responsibility for somebody who spent most of his career bouncing around at tackle and guard.
If Brandel looks comfortable, one of Minnesota’s biggest offseason gambles gets less spooky.
5. Who Comes in the Game if Kyler Murray Gets Hurt?
One month ago, fans intensely debated whether Murray or J.J. McCarthy would win the QB1 job at training camp. With the start of the regular season near, the same crowd wonders if McCarthy would come into a game at all if Murray got hurt.
Minnesota could have Carson Wentz, a veteran with 99 career starts, as its emergency answer while McCarthy continues developing. Nobody wants to test this arrangement in Week 1, but one awkward Murray landing could turn a mysterious depth chart question into the biggest football story inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
6. Brett Thorson’s Punting
The Vikings brushed veteran stability in Johnny Hekker aside during roster cuts, preferring the youth and Ray Guy-winning upside of rookie Thorson.
Field position in a rivalry game is rarely glamorous until one possession flips the whole damn thing. Thorson showed the leg strength Minnesota wanted during preseason action. If he pins Jordan Love deep a few times, nobody will miss Hekker or Ryan Wright.
7. Kaleb Johnson Lurking
With Josh Jacobs on the commissioner’s exempt list indefinitely, the Packers will turn to the oft-injured MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and newly acquired Kaleb Johnson. Pittsburgh used 3rd-round draft capital on Johnson in 2025 – – and then never really used him as a rookie.
His first year was ugly: 69 rushing yards on 28 carries. His Iowa resume was prettier, including 1,537 yards in 2024.
Lloyd should get the first crack, but Johnson is noteworthy in a backfield without its star. If Green Bay finds the “upside” version of Johnson, the backup running back storyline could get annoying.
8. Who Gets Vikings OLB Snaps after Van Ginkel & Turner?
The Vikings waited about six months to sign an OLB3, and his name is Kyle Van Noy. Will Van Noy be ready for Vikings-Packers? We shall see. He’s on the practice squad at the moment.
Bo Richter and Chaz Chambliss are the depth pieces if Van Noy is not elevated. Richter has made his living on special teams. Chambliss has been moonlighting at fullback, because apparently one job was not enough. Flores will need somebody to spell the starters. Week 1 will reveal who owns those defensive snaps when Turner or Van Ginkel rests.
Flores could also use Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins or rookie Jake Golday from time to time at OLB. Who’s it gonna be?
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VikesNow Verdict: A rookie kicker, Brandel’s center debut, Thorson’s punting, and Minnesota’s EDGE rotation, among other items, all deserve attention before kickoff.
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