Packers vs. Steelers: What actually matters in preseason opener?

The Green Bay Packers open the 2026 preseason with a Thursday-night visit to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers. The article argues that, beyond giving younger players a live look, preseason game plans usually won’t swing teams much before the regular season begins because schemes tend to be vanilla. Instead, what matters most for Green Bay is avoiding injuries—highlighting the memory of Jordy Nelson’s ACL tear at Heinz Field in 2015—and making progress in position battles still undecided for Week 1, including right guard, nose tackle, and cornerback. The first test for top rookie Brandon Cisse is also emphasized, along with kicker Trey Smack getting meaningful live kicks. The piece notes the value of performance to help determine lineups and roles, particularly early in the opener’s first half.