Van Ness finished the 2024 season with 33 tackles (22 solo), including 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season contests. The 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Van Ness' second pro season virtually mirrored his first. He appeared in all 17 games (zero starts) and upped his tackles number by a mere one, while his sack total dipped from 4.0 as a rookie to 3.0 in his second season. After playing 33 percent of the defensive snaps in 2023, Van Ness was up to 39 percent this past season. The Packers are likely hoping for a third-year leap from Van Ness in 2025. Green Bay could use a more productive edge rusher opposite Rashan Gary.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Lukas Van Ness news
Other Packers Players
Team
Green Bay Packers
Birthdate
7/6/2001 (23)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'5", 272 lbs
Draft Info
2023: Rd 1; Pk (GB)
Birthplace
Barrington, IL, USA
Position
DL
College
Iowa
Experience
2 seasons
Career History
Green Bay Packers
2023-Present
(2 seasons)
Van Ness finished the 2024 season with 33 tackles (22 solo), including 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season contests. The 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Van Ness' second pro season virtually mirrored his first. He appeared in all 17 games (zero starts) and upped his tackles number by a mere one, while his sack total dipped from 4.0 as a rookie to 3.0 in his second season. After playing 33 percent of the defensive snaps in 2023, Van Ness was up to 39 percent this past season. The Packers are likely hoping for a third-year leap from Van Ness in 2025. Green Bay could use a more productive edge rusher opposite Rashan Gary.
Van Ness (thumb) returned to Thursday's contest versus the Lions, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports. Van Ness was able to return to the field in the second quarter against Detroit after being considered questionable with a thumb injury. The 23-year-old will continue to handle the bulk of the work opposite of Rashan Gary at defensive end in Week 14.
Van Ness (thumb) is questionable to return to Thursday night's matchup with the Lions, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports. Van Ness suffered a thumb injury in the first half of Thursday's contest with Detroit, placing some doubt on his ability to return to the field. In his absence, Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox stand to see an increase in workload on the defensive line.
Van Ness should see an increased role with the Packers' first-team defense following Preston Smith's trade to the Jets on Tuesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports. Van Ness served as a rotational edge rusher through the first nine games of the regular season while also contributing to special teams. However, following Smith's departure and assuming Green Bay doesn't add any other veteran edge rushers, Van Ness should start with the first-team defense alongside Rashan Gary and defensive tackles Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt. Van Ness -- the Packers' first-round selection of the 2023 NFL Draft -- has accumulated 20 tackles (14 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery during the 2024 regular season.
Van Ness (thumb) returned to practice at OTAs on Tuesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. Van Ness missed some time while recovering from a thumb fracture, but he's already back on the field. The 2023 first-round pick is coming off a rookie campaign in which he racked up 32 tackles (24 solo) and four sacks across 17 regular-season appearances.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday that Van Ness is dealing with a broken thumb, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. LaFleur did not get into the origin of Van Ness' injury, but he downplayed the severity of the issue by saying that Van Ness "broke his thumb just a little bit," per Demovsky. The 2023 first-round pick also did not participate in Green Bay's voluntary OTA sessions Wednesday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, so it will be worth monitoring by the start of the team's mandatory minicamp on June 11. Van Ness recorded 32 tackles and 4.0 sacks over 17 games during his rookie season.