As if the Packers didn’t have enough adversity to overcome in what could be a season of tradition, the NFL schedule makers threw Green Bay several curveballs within the 2026 schedule.
Green Bay will likely open the season with Micah Parsons less than 100 percent from a torn ACL, if he’s on the field at all, and will be breaking in a revamped receiving corps, overhauled offensive line, and a new defensive scheme.
Then, there are the landmines dealt the Packers by the NFL schedule makers.
The worst thing about the Packers’ 2026 schedule
Over at CBS Sports, NFL analyst John Breer put together a list of worst aspects of each team’s upcoming schedule, including how generally strange the Packers’ slate is, on paper.
“The Packers have one of the most bizarre schedules in NFL history,” Breer writes for CBS. “Not only do they have two Thursday games, but they also have a Friday game on Christmas, which means they have three games where they’ll be getting short rest. Their Week 11 bye has also been chopped in half since they have to play on Wednesday in Week 12 against the Rams. The Packers’ schedule is a battle of attrition and it might not be easy for them to stay healthy.”
Green Bay playing on so many different days of the week is one thing, but shortening the bye week and amount of rest that players have is almost adding insult to injury.
Navigating this unprecedented logistical gauntlet will test the depth and mental toughness of the roster just as much as any opponent on the field. If Green Bay isn’t careful, this season could be about attrition as much as it is wins.