3 Key Vikings On Defense vs. Packers

The Minnesota Vikings start the 2026 season with a home game against their division rivals the Green Bay Packers. After looking at three key Vikings on offense for this game, it’s time to look at the other side of the ball.

3 Key Vikings On Defense vs. Packers

The Brian Flores defense was the strength of this team last year, and while Minnesota will be hoping for better from their offense in 2026. The defense will still have a major role to play. Here are three guys I think will have particularly key roles in this game.

Jalen Redmond

With Josh Jacobs missing for Green Bay, the Packers are left without a major focal point in their offense. Establishing the run is a big part of their offense and without Jacobs, they will have to rely on a mixture of MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Kaleb Johnson. The Vikings need to shut down this supporting cast of running backs and force the ball into the hands of Packers QB Jordan Love.

As the main man on the interior of the defensive line, Jalen Redmond needs to lead that charge and be dominant in run defense. Redmond has been a revelation since arriving in Minnesota two years ago via a stint in the UFL. If the Vikings are able to stop the run, Redmond will also have a role in getting after the quarterback, such is his ability in both phases of the defense. He is an invaluable player for the Vikings and in his second season as a starter, I hope for him to kick on even further.

Dallas Turner

There is a lot of pressure on Dallas Turner to step up this year. Minnesota showed a lot of faith in their third-year, former first-round pick when they traded away Jonathan Greenard and thrust Turner into position as the team’s leading pass rusher. After a rough rookie season, Turner picked up last year, especially when Greenard was absent through injury, and led the team with eight sacks. The question this year is whether he leads the team for a full season and gets the sack figure into double figures, which is where you’d expect top-tier edge rushers to be.

Sunday sees the first look at Turner as “the guy” and the pressure will be on. He potentially has a favorable matchup as he comes up against a Packers offensive line that has three starters on the injury report this week, including both starting tackles. Lingering injuries that have seen the Packers offensive line unable to compete or practice together over the preseason are a major concern currently in Green Bay. It’s a chance to start the season off with a bang and if Turner can take it, he will put the Vikings well on the way to a victory.

Harrison Smith

He took his time but eventually Harrison Smith came back for his 15th season as a Viking. The Hitman brings a wealth of experience and football intelligence to the Vikings’ defense. The question is what the 37-year-old version of Smith who missed out on all of training camp and preseason looks like. There’s no getting away from the fact that he’s not the player he once was, but can he maintain a reasonable standard in coverage and coming downhill to make tackles or rush the passer?

If he can then his leadership and football IQ will still be an invaluable part of what Flores wants his defense to do. If the Vikings can stop the run then the secondary needs to be sharp against Green Bay’s passing attack. I do expect Smith to slot right back into his every-down role and we will see if he’s still up to it on Sunday.

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