The Green Bay Packers could be without two important defensive front players against the New York Jets after listing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave as doubtful and edge rusher Lukas Van Ness as questionable on Friday’s final Week 2 injury report.
Both players are working through the NFL concussion protocol. Hargrave was also listed with a knee issue and did not practice Thursday or Friday, while Van Ness remained a limited participant throughout the week.
The final designations give Green Bay a clearer picture after several days of uncertainty. Hargrave is now considered unlikely to play, while Van Ness still has a path to being cleared before Sunday’s game.
Hargrave is trending toward missing Week 2
Hargrave entered the concussion protocol during the week after experiencing symptoms following Green Bay’s opener. The Packers listed him as limited Wednesday before he missed both Thursday and Friday practices.
That practice trend is reflected in the doubtful designation. While doubtful does not technically rule a player out, it signals that Hargrave is unlikely to be available against the Jets.
His potential absence would matter on a defensive front that is already missing Warren Brinson, who was ruled out for a second consecutive week because of a calf injury. Green Bay may therefore have to lean more heavily on the healthy interior rotation if Hargrave cannot clear the protocol.
Van Ness has practiced but still needs clearance
Van Ness has followed a different path. Head coach Matt LaFleur said he entered the concussion protocol earlier in the week, but he was able to participate on a limited basis Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
That gives the Packers more reason for optimism than they have with Hargrave, but practice participation alone does not equal clearance. Van Ness remains listed as questionable and still must satisfy the league’s concussion protocol before he can play.
The distinction matters because Green Bay is preparing for a Jets offense that can force the edge defenders to handle both pass-rush responsibilities and disciplined run fits. If Van Ness is unavailable, the Packers would have to redistribute those snaps among the remaining edge options.
Green Bay’s final injury report has several other questions
The Packers listed four players as questionable in total: Van Ness, guard Aaron Banks, offensive lineman Zach Bako-Bewele and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste. St-Juste was a late addition to the report Friday with a hamstring injury after being limited in practice.
Banks has been working through a knee issue and was limited all week. Bako-Bewele was also limited because of a knee injury. Both remain uncertain for Sunday.
Green Bay did receive some positive news elsewhere. Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, edge rusher Barryn Sorrell and linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper did not receive game designations, meaning they are expected to be available.
The defensive-line depth will be tested if Hargrave sits
The most immediate issue is inside, where Brinson is already out and Hargrave is doubtful. The Packers’ official injury report noted that first-year defensive tackle Anthony Campbell was a healthy scratch in Week 1, giving Green Bay an available depth option if the rotation has to expand.
The coaching staff could also adjust how it allocates snaps across the front rather than asking one reserve to replace Hargrave’s full role. That would allow Green Bay to keep players fresher while maintaining different combinations for early downs and passing situations.
The injury uncertainty comes at an important point for a team trying to settle into its 2026 identity. FSN’s broader Packers season outlook focused on Green Bay’s need to turn a talented roster into a more complete team. Managing multiple injuries on the defensive front is an early test of that depth.
The Jets are also entering Week 2 short-handed
Green Bay is not the only team carrying significant injury questions into the matchup. New York ruled out safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, receiver Omar Cooper Jr., edge rusher Joseph Ossai and running back Kene Nwangwu.
FSN previously covered the injuries to Fitzpatrick and Cooper as the Jets began Week 2 preparation. Friday’s final report confirmed that both will miss the game.
That does not reduce the importance of Green Bay’s own front-seven availability, but it does mean both teams will enter Sunday adjusting around missing contributors.
What to watch before kickoff
The key question is whether Van Ness advances far enough through the concussion protocol to be active. His limited work throughout the week suggests he has made progress, but the final medical clearance remains decisive.
Hargrave’s status is less encouraging. After consecutive missed practices and a doubtful designation, the Packers have to prepare as though they may be without him.
Green Bay will also have to monitor Banks, Bako-Bewele and St-Juste through the weekend. Any additional absence would increase the importance of depth players on both sides of the ball.
For now, the final Friday report leaves the Packers with one clear defensive-line absence in Brinson, one likely absence in Hargrave and one unresolved concussion question in Van Ness. That combination will shape the defensive rotation when Green Bay faces the Jets on Sunday.
Sources
- Green Bay Packers: Final Week 2 injury report vs. Jets (September 18, 2026)
- NFL.com: Friday league news roundup (September 18, 2026)
- Packers News via Yahoo Sports: Javon Hargrave misses second practice; Lukas Van Ness participates (September 18, 2026)