Rashan Gary’s recent performances have left the Green Bay Packers and their fans wanting more from the former first-round pick. While he’s shown improvement in the past two games, his overall production this season is falling short, with just one sack since Week 1 and only two across his last 15 games (playoffs included). Gary’s pressure numbers are low, ranking 41st in pressures and 75th in pass-rush grading according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), far behind the league’s elite pass-rushers like Nick Bosa.
The Packers have continued to attribute Gary’s lack of production to the frequency of double-teams he faces. While double-teams are certainly challenging, many fans are growing tired of this rationale, especially given that other top pass-rushers face similar obstacles. The Packers’ defense as a whole has struggled, particularly with a pass-rush win rate ranked 30th in the league, according to ESPN.
With potential secondary absences—Jaire Alexander and Evan Williams are question marks for Week 9 against the high-powered Detroit Lions—Gary and the rest of the Packers’ defensive front must elevate their play. Facing the Lions’ offense, one of the league’s most explosive, means the pressure is on Gary to disrupt Jared Goff and give the Packers a fighting chance.
Packers defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich’s recent comments defending Rashan Gary’s production have sparked some frustration among fans and analysts alike. Rebrovich cited Gary’s frequent double-teams and the team’s defensive transition as reasons for his lackluster performance. While Gary is indeed drawing a significant amount of extra attention—PFF reports he’s been chipped on 16.5% of his pass-rush snaps, among the league’s highest—it’s a reality that all top pass-rushers face. Players like T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, and Micah Parsons consistently overcome double-teams and chips to generate high levels of pressure, making Gary’s struggles harder to justify given his recent $96 million extension.
Analyst Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee addressed the issue directly, noting that, while double-teams are challenging, they shouldn’t prevent Gary from making an impact every game. Other pass-rushing stars don’t use chips as a reason for lack of production, which has made the Packers’ reliance on this explanation frustrating for fans. Moreover, Rebrovich’s point about adjusting to a new scheme feels less credible at this stage, as the season is well underway and the secondary has generally performed well despite any schematic changes.
Given these circumstances, there’s growing speculation that the Packers might seek pass-rush help before the trade deadline. However, with the talent already on the roster, fans believe this shouldn’t be necessary—Gary simply needs to produce. As the Packers face high-powered offenses down the stretch, including a looming matchup against the Detroit Lions, they’ll need Gary to find ways to get through chips and double-teams and deliver as the defensive leader his contract suggests he should be.
oup needs to improve, but it starts with Gary, who is the Packers’ best pass-rusher.