The Green Bay Packers have turned to another veteran body up front, signing former Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler in a bid to steady an offensive line that has been a major problem through three weeks.
Green Bay hosted Zeitler for a workout on Wednesday before moving quickly to add him. The move comes as the Packers try to patch over a unit that has struggled to protect quarterback Jordan Love and has also failed to open consistent running lanes for the backs. The result has been an offense that has become one-dimensional.
Zeitler is not the only experienced lineman the Packers have brought in lately. According to Adam Schefter, he is the third veteran offensive lineman added by Green Bay in the last week, joining Laken Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton.
“More offensive line help; Veteran guard Kevin Zeitler, who has played 14 NFL seasons, is signing a one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers, per sources. This week, the Packers now have added veteran offensive linemen Zeitler, Laken Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton. pic.twitter.com/k6Sh57nk69”
The Packers have also used premium draft picks on offensive linemen in recent seasons, with players like Jordan Morgan, Anthony Belton, and Jager Burton part of that mix. Even with that investment, the group has not delivered, and Green Bay now finds itself overhauling the position in-season.
It is an unusual reset this early in the year, but the Packers clearly believe they need immediate help. Whether these moves come in time is the question hanging over the whole effort.
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Gutekunsts first move was to bring in veteran guard Laken Tomlinson from the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, a clear sign the Packers are trying to patch things before the damage gets worse. Whether one addition is enough to stabilize a line that has already been through so much is still the bigger question hanging over the offense. [Read more 🡒]