The Green Bay Packers made a notable change in Week 8, sliding Laken Tomlinson over to right guard even though that spot has hardly been home for him over a 12-year NFL career. The veteran had started there only once before, but the Packers kept him in the lineup anyway after deciding his play was too strong to sit.
Tomlinson said the move has taken some adjustment, and last week’s condensed schedule made it tougher than usual.
“I mean, it’s definitely a challenge, especially last week,” Tomlinson shared.
That Thursday night game left Green Bay with very little time to work through the switch in practice. This week has been different. With a longer runway before the next game, Tomlinson has had more time to sort through the details and get more comfortable on the right side.
“This week, especially going into the long weekend, I had some extra time to kind of just like go over some stuff on my own. Work on my technique and just work on flipping things technique-wise, and having these two days of practice. So definitely a lot more comfortable now,” the Packers veteran remarked.
The numbers show just how unusual this is for him. Tomlinson has played 11,131 career snaps at left guard, while his total at right guard sits at 131 after his Week 8 start. Still, Green Bay had a reason to make the move: with Aaron Banks back at left guard, there wasn’t a spot for Tomlinson on that side, so the Packers shifted him over rather than pull him out of the starting five.
The early returns are still a work in progress, but the Packers will have another chance to settle things in Week 9 when they head to New England to face the Patriots.
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