Packers exercise – Lukas Van Ness’ first three NFL seasons haven’t matched the expectations tied to his 2023 draft slot, but the Packers have exercised his fifth-year option anyway. After a foot injury limited him to 1.5 sacks in 2025, Van Ness insists he’s trusted his path and
On a season when Lukas Van Ness was limited by a foot injury, the decision still landed the same way: the Packers moved to keep him around.
Green Bay exercised the fifth-year option on the edge rusher’s contract despite the fact that his first three seasons have been filled with more promise than production. The 13th overall pick in 2023 has totaled 8.5 sacks, 23 quarterback hits, and 84 tackles in 43 games across three seasons.
The scoreboard has been tough for him. He made only two starts, played only nine games, and managed just 1.5 sacks in 2025 due to the foot injury. It’s a stretch that has made it easy for outside eyes to question whether his development has come fast enough.
Van Ness knows the story people have been telling. “It’s probably not been my ideal career if you would have talked to me in 2023 when I was a fresh rookie coming in here. but everyone’s got their own process and their own path. ” he said this week via Steve Megargee of The Associated Press. “I’ve trusted the path. I feel really good about where I’m at.”.
Numbers have also framed his limited snap impact. Van Ness has never generated more than 27 quarterback pressures in a season. and he has never topped an 11.2 percent pressure rate. according to Next Gen Stats. He also has never played more than 40 percent of the snaps in a season. even though he played all 17 games in his first two seasons.
Yet the Packers’ decision shows they’re not writing him off. Van Ness, for his part, isn’t treating this as a closed chapter either—he’s still chasing the version of himself that fits the team’s expectations.
“I think pressure is a privilege to have,” Van Ness said. “We’re obviously in a blessed position where there’s people watching our spot and people are obviously going to have their own opinions. but at the end of the day I think you’ve just got to believe in yourself and believe in what you’re hearing in the building from your coaches and from your circle and other players in the defensive room.”.
Taken together. the choice and the quotes sharpen the same theme: the Packers are giving Van Ness time to catch up to the draft-day promise. and he’s trying to prove that the productivity will finally match the opportunity. The fifth-year option keeps that bet alive—now the next step has to show up on the field.
Lukas Van Ness Green Bay Packers NFL fifth-year option 2023 NFL Draft edge rusher foot injury 2025 sacks Next Gen Stats
So they kept him anyway… guess Green Bay loves “potential” more than sacks lol.
Foot injury or not, 1.5 sacks sounds rough. But like… if they didn’t trust him they wouldn’t pay for another year? I dunno, seems like they’re betting on his next foot to behave.
Wait I thought he was already out of the league? The title says “hopes linger” so I assumed he’s getting traded. Packers exercising an option sounds like they’re stuck with him, unless he suddenly becomes an All-Pro overnight.
Packers always do this thing where they hold onto players too long because of the draft number. 13th overall should’ve been more production by now. Also “pressure is a privilege” like okay sure but I’m still trying to see sacks on the stat sheet. If he can’t get more than 40% of snaps, why keep him… unless the coaches are using him wrong or something.