Xavier McKinney broke out in 2024 after joining Green Bay, posting 88 tackles, 11 passes defensed and a career-high eight interceptions, plus a sack and a fumble recovery. The breakout earned his first Pro Bowl nod and a spot at No. 30 on the 2025 NFL Top 100. Analysts credit his middle-field IQ and ball-hawking ability for lifting Green Bay’s defense into the league’s top-six and earning first-team All-Pro recognition. Week 1 with Detroit looms as a test for his fantasy upside in IDP formats.

The piece notes McKinney’s seven-figure payday and growing peer respect, including praise from peers like Patrick Surtain II. The narrative centers on McKinney’s fit in Green Bay’s scheme, his ceiling for turnovers, and how his emergence could drive sustained fantasy value for safeties who can both tackle and pick off passes in 2025.

Green Bay shuffled its roster with four moves, waiving Keith Randolph Jr. with an injury designation, releasing Garnett Hollis Jr., and signing Jaylin Simpson and Devonte O'Malley to add depth for training camp. Simpson, wearing 38, and O'Malley, wearing 69, practiced for the first time Monday after workouts that led to the signings. The moves come as Green Bay looks to stabilize safety and defensive-line depth ahead of joint practices and the upcoming preseason game with Seattle.

Injured safeties Xavier McKinney, Zayne Anderson and Omar Brown leave the Packers needing veteran-friendly depth, while Kenny Clark and three edge players are sidelined on the defensive line. Brown logged 62 snaps in two preseason games; Randolph had 33. With roster cuts looming to reach 53 by next Tuesday, Simpson and O’Malley could still land a spot on the 16-player practice squad if they show well in the final week.

Simpson, a 6-0, 180-pound versatile defender who can play safety and slot, comes after a fifth-round selection by the Colts in 2024. O’Malley, an NIU product, posted 30 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks across five college seasons. The Packers’ short-term aim is to fill immediate gaps, while evaluating whether either can convert to a long-term role or secure a practice-squad spot for development.

Packers eye Isaiah Simmons as a versatile rover-like asset, trimming him to one linebacker position and nudging him toward a subpackage role that could unlock coverage and zone-skip potential. He’s described internally as the preferred backup at linebacker, keeping him squarely in contention for the 53-man roster as training camp unfolds. The conversation around Simmons blends optimism with guarded realism, especially after the preseason opener underscoring how live tackling changes everything.

Praise from teammates—Josh Jacobs calling Simmons a unicorn with elite speed and slot-cover ability, and Xavier McKinney signaling he’ll be a big part of the defense—frames a path for Simmons to contribute meaningfully if he seizes a defined niche. The upcoming two preseason games loom large, offering a clearer read on whether the early camp buzz translates into real-game production and a stable defensive role for Green Bay.

The Green Bay preseason setback against the Jets came with notable injury news on the Packers' special teams. Zayne Anderson and Corey Ballentine left Saturday's game with injuries that could test Rich Bisaccia's depth early this season. Anderson, who logged heavy special-teams work last year, left with a knee issue, while Ballentine was shaken up late and appeared to be dealing with a head-related concern.

With Xavier McKinney sidelined for New York, Anderson was the starting safety in the Packers’ nickel package alongside Evan Williams, highlighting how thin the depth chart could become if these injuries linger. Ballentine’s return to the lineup after a recent Colts release adds to the evaluation of Packers corner and kick-coverage units. The injuries leather into thoughtful early-season planning for Bisaccia and the defense, especially in the weeks ahead of the regular-season opener.