Green Bay Packers center Josh Myers (71) had hios best NFL season in 2023.
Rebuild? Regress?
Hardly. Try restock, reload and continue chasing greatness.
Green Bay traded away future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in April, 2023, then fielded the NFL’s youngest roster a year ago.
Most believed the Packers — who missed the postseason in 2022 — would take another step back in 2023. Instead, Green Bay reached the playoffs, upset Dallas in the Wild Card round and had eventual NFC champion San Francisco on the ropes before fading in the divisional playoffs.
Now, with the overwhelming majority of that ascending roster back, a gifted quarterback in Jordan Love, and some key offseason additions, the Packers will return as one of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX.
“I’ve been so close so many years and I’ve been a part of some really good teams. Some great teams,” said Kenny Clark, a defensive tackle who has played in three NFC Championship games, but has been on the losing end each time. “But this group is really coming together, really connecting.
“They’ve got a lot of love for each other. It’s built the right way. It’s hard to win in this league, but I think if we take the same approach we took last year, we’ll make some noise and hopefully we can get to that game (the Super Bowl).”
Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 22. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2024 campaign.
At No. 15 is center Josh Myers.
No. 15
Josh Myers, C
Last season
Myers, a 2021 second round draft pick, had his finest season in Green Bay. Myers has outstanding mobility and developed terrific chemistry with quarterback Jordan Love.
His strength could be better, though, which played a part in Myers allowing 1.5 sacks, seven pressures and six quarterback hits.
“I felt like I made a ton of growth,” Myers said. “I feel like I had a good basic understanding of the plays and I feel like I grew a ton on that with just my understanding of the game within the game inside of those plays and things I can do to give myself a better chance to win. I just feel like I learned a ton in that aspect this year.”
Career to date
Myers was handed the starting center job his rookie season of 2021 after Corey Linsley signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. Myers was off to a solid start that year, but missed 11 games with a knee injury.
Myers took a major step in 2022 when he played 1,091 of 1,094 snaps (99.73%), more than any of Green Bay’s offensive lineman. Myers allowed three sacks and had three penalties in 2022, then held off a challenge from both Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom prior to the 2023 campaign.
“My mindset is that this is a business and they’re going to try to push all of us as much as they can and they’re not going to hand a spot to a guy if they don’t have to,” Myers said before the 2023 season. “And they’re going to push us and whoever’s the best is going to come out playing. That’s just the way it is. And it’s nothing new to me. I’ve competed for spots for a really long time.”
Myers held off his competitors last summer, then had his finest season to date.
Outlook
The Packers have looked at some other options at center the last two years, but Myers has refused to budge. In fact, he made big gains in 2023 and his job seems more secure than any time since he arrived back in 2021.
Myers will be a free agent after the 2024 season, meaning this could be his last year in Green Bay. For now, Myers is simply trying to play winning football, which will lead to a new contract — somewhere.
“Yeah, look, I think if I start playing the ‘What if?’ game and all that stuff, I’ll end up getting in my own head and not playing as well,” Myers said last month. “So I can tell you, everybody’s going to keep talking. I’m sure there will be more questions and I’ll get questioned more and I’m going to continue to not care, you know what I mean. I’m just going to do my thing and show up every day and play the way I play and the way the cards fall is the way the cards fall.”
Comments
“Just to continue to grow, just like our expectations for everybody. Every day, get better. That’s where Josh excelled last year. He did get better as the year went on and he had command of this offense and took charge, was a little bit more vocal toward the end in commanding this offense. So, what do we need from him? Just to get better every single day. Keep improving.” — Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus on Myers
“Josh Myers is playing the best he’s played in his career. I think he’s playing really well.” — Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich on Myers during the 2023 season
“I turn my social media off during the season. I know it’s out there, but I don't look at it, I don't see it, I don’t care to look at it. And I tell you what man, I just took it day by day and finally I felt like things started turning for me. I was able to string together some good games and I’m going to keep working, keep trying to get better and hopefully they’re excited for me to come out and play this year.” — Myers on how he handled his business in 2023
THE TOP 30
• No. 28 — CB Carrington Valentine
