There was reportedly quite a bit to like for Matt LaFleur at Green Bay Packers minicamp this week. But there was also some things to dislike.
SI on Packers’ Bill Huber went through both the positive and negatives from the week of practice on Friday. Notably, Huber called edge rusher Collin Oliver one of the team’s five biggest losers from minicamp.
“A fifth-round pick last year, recurring hamstring injuries sidelined him for OTAs, minicamp and training camp. He finally started practicing late in the season and provided some impact in his NFL debut at Minnesota in Week 18,” wrote Huber.
“Oliver, however, once again missed all of OTAs and minicamp due to injury. The Packers need all the pass rush they can get without Micah Parsons. Can Oliver deliver it?
“Who knows after an opportunity to hone his craft went down the drain.”
The Packers selected Oliver at No. 159 overall in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He appeared in one game as a rookie last season.
Oliver wasn’t able to stay healthy as a rookie. Early in 2026, he has the same issue.
Packers Edge Rusher Collin Oliver Deemed Loser of Minicamp
GettySecond-year edge rusher Collin Oliver was dealing with an injury again during the Green Bay Packers minicamp.
It’s hard to place too high of expectations on a fifth-round pick. But Oliver’s failure to emerge as a potential contributor is a potential issue for the Packers because of their questions at edge rusher
The Packers could really use a Day 3 pick to emerge as a temporary starter along the edge with Micah Parsons set to potentially miss the first portion of the 2026 regular season.
But it doesn’t appear Oliver will be a guy who emerges.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein considered Oliver a significant project last year. Well, projects can’t develop if they aren’t on the practice field.
Oliver dealt with injuries during his college career as well.
“The right foot injury that cost Oliver all but two games in 2024 could create unsure evaluations,” wrote Zierlein during the 2025 draft process. “He’s a natural edge rusher with outstanding fluidity and movement talent but lacks the size or length to project there as a three-down player.
“He projects as a designated pass rusher and developmental off-ball linebacker with the ability to jump into a special-teams role.”
In his one game last season, Oliver posted one combined tackle, which was a tackle for loss. He also had two quarterback hits while playing 31 defensive snaps. Oliver lined up on 10 special teams snaps as well.
That’s actually not bad production. But the Packers don’t know if Oliver has progressed at all this offseason after he didn’t practice at minicamp.
Packers Edge Rushing Depth Entering Training Camp
GettySI on Packers’ Bill Huber called Green Bay Packers edge rusher Collin Olver a loser from Matt LaFleur’s 2026 minicamp.
While it was disappointing to not see Oliver on the field for the Packers in team activities, it wasn’t all bad news for Green Bay’s edge rushers this past week.
Huber called both Lukas Van Ness and Brenton Cox “winners” of minicamp.
“With Micah Parsons going to miss the start of the season, the Packers desperately need Lukas Van Ness to finally match the expectations that come with being a first-round draft pick,” wrote Huber. “In perhaps the most encouraging sign of the offseason, Van Ness was arguably the most impactful player on the field.”
Van Ness and Cox were two of Huber’s 12 winners from Packers minicamp, which concluded Thursday.
Green Bay will have more offseason workouts next week. But head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters only rookies will participate.
The Packers will hold their first training camp practice on July 29.
Packers Potential Key Depth Edge Rusher Deemed Minicamp Loser