Green Bay Packers linebacker Lukas Van Ness had the luxury of playing alongside superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons in 2025, following the team’s stunning trade for the then-four-time Pro Bowler with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025.
Now, Van Ness is hoping to translate everything he’s learned from Parsons into effective play on the field, as he prepares for his fourth season in the league.
“I’ve learned a lot from Micah over the past year. He’s taught me a lot about how I can improve and work on my game. He’s just a really good dude, a really good guy and a good guy to have in my corner,” Van Ness told reporters on Tuesday, via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
Parsons is unable to participate in Green Bay’s offseason on-field activities as he continues to recover from a season-ending ACL injury he suffered late in the 2025 campaign, but he’s been visible and continues to lend his support to his team — including Van Ness.
Packers hoping to see a Van Ness breakout season in 2026
While Parsons is sidelined, Green Bay hopes Van Ness can step up and finally have the breakout season the team and its fans have been longing to see. Selected 13th overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Van Ness has 8.5 sacks to go with 23 quarterback hits and 84 combined tackles through 43 games in Green Bay threads.
The former Iowa Hawkeyes star should also have all the motivation he needs to perform at a high level in 2025, as he looks for a contract extension. Green Bay picked up his fifth-year option for the 2027 season, but has no contract beyond that year.
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