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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — Mike Parsons has played several roles in his short career with the Green Bay Packers: great pass rusher, team leader and mentor to young edge rushers. To this he added the role of President of the Lucas Van Ness Fan Club, although this club is not very big. Van Ness, a 2023 first-round pick, had a somewhat lackluster first season with injuries and a lack of effectiveness when fit. But Parsons is always on Van Ness's side. And if a top player in the world like Parsons gives Van Ness some weight, it could be an important season for Van Ness. "I think Luke is a player that a lot of people overlook and I don't know why," Parsons said of Van Ness. "I think at the end of the season, if Luke is fit, I think he'll probably be (the team's) favorite (player). That's how much confidence I have in him." Wait, like, any fan favorites? A guy who fans seem disappointed in because he only had 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in three years? Parsons's words are not exaggeration? "I really believe in him," Parsons added. "I think sometimes he looks at you guys (the media) and that puts pressure on him, but I think he's going to be as big as he needs to be." “I learned a lot from Micah last year,” Van Ness said. "He's taught me how to improve my game. He's a great person, a great person and a great support for me." Van Ness finally started to step up his game last season, when he sprained his leg while sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco in Week 6. The injury took longer to recover from than the Packers expected, and Van Ness missed a total of seven games — the first five and two more in Week 12 due to a setback. Still, the Packers activated his fifth-year option and fully guaranteed his 2027 salary to show confidence in Van Ness. Maybe there was less pressure on Van Ness in this regard, because if the Packers had kept him as a contract year player, there would have been more pressure on Van Ness. But he understands the importance of this season. "It's probably going to be a big year for me naturally," he said. "I don't know, I'm not a celebrity that doesn't get talked about, so I know that when my name is mentioned, it's not always said well." But Van Ness' goal this season is to make football fun again. It hasn't always been fun for him over the past few years. "But it was evident in one practice at minicamp, where Van Ness played great," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "Van Ness was very dynamic that day (in practice). I think it's important for him to be fit, and he is fit now. His communication with the defensive tackles in his starting position is very good. He starts very quickly and he creates problems for the tackles. If they don't block him at the right time, he can easily get to the corner and get the sack. I hope everything is expected of him and the team this season.” Van Ness said in new defensive coordinator Johnny Gannon's system, he can play different positions and play without thinking, which is what works best for him. "I think it's very important for me that I can play at a faster pace in the game," he said. “Thinking about anything or hesitating about anything only slows you down. When I'm on the field I want everything to be more transparent." "I think the way my career has started is not very good, if you ask me in 2023, then I will say I wanted to start the career in such a way that I play all the matches and play well," he added. "But everyone has a different path, and I believe in my path." Parsons, who underwent surgery for an ACL injury last December, may miss the first month of the season for the Packers. So the pressure on Van Ness will increase a lot.