The Packers didn’t need long to feel the sting of letting Elgton Jenkins get away.
Green Bay shifted Jenkins from left guard to center to create room for Aaron Banks, a move that already looked risky on paper and now feels even shakier after one preseason game. Jenkins was a Pro-Bowl caliber player at his natural spot and only a slightly above-average center, but the Packers still allowed him to leave in free agency for the Cleveland Browns.
That decision was impossible to ignore after Green Bay’s ugly preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The offensive line was a mess, and even with some starters sitting out, the performance raised the same question over and over: how different would things have looked with Jenkins back in the mix?
The Packers’ front five now looks like a problem in need of immediate attention. The run blocking has been rough, the interior is unstable, and Jordan Morgan is still a work in progress who may not be the answer at left tackle.
Jenkins may not be Joel Bitonio, but he was steady and reliable at left guard for years. The player in his place has been the weakest link, with some fans already calling for him to be gone after only one season.
Preseason doesn’t deserve to be treated like gospel, of course. It’s the time to experiment, make mistakes, and sort things out. But this line was already under the microscope before kickoff, and what happened against Pittsburgh didn’t exactly calm anyone down.
Even with Josh Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd in the backfield, there’s only so much a runner can do when defenders are crowding the line of scrimmage. If the Packers can’t move people up front, staying on schedule is going to be a grind.
Matt LaFleur wants to establish the run, as the best offensive minds usually do, but this roster may not be built for that approach right now. Jordan Love gives them a gunslinger under center, and pass protection has been a little better, which is why the idea of leaning harder on the passing game starts to make sense.
Meanwhile, Jenkins is set to start at center for his new team, where he’ll anchor a rebuilt offensive line that could end up going from one of the league’s worst to one of its toughest. The Packers’ decision to deem him too expensive is a big part of why that’s happening.
In Other News...
Packers Guard Battle Took Shape With One Early Preseason Warning
The Packers guard competition is already taking on shape in August, and the early signs have been mixed. Rookie Jager Burton and third-year lineman Jacob Monk both got turns with the first group in team drills and again in a preseason game, giving Green Bay a real look at how each might fit if the job becomes available.
Monks night was especially revealing because of the way the line kept shifting around him, while Burton was trying to make his own case in live action. Neither player delivered the kind of clean, decisive outing that settles a battle this early, and the Packers now have at least one preseason warning to sort through before the evaluation gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Could Face An Unexpected Roster Twist From NCAA Lawsuit
A new NCAA eligibility fight could end up creating an odd kind of roster ripple for NFL teams, including the Packers, as some members of the 2022 college class explore whether they can reclaim another year in school after the NCAA approved a five-year eligibility agreement. The first official case centers on former LSU player Jack Byburn, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but could head back to college football if he is released and the courts give the green light.
For Green Bay, the wrinkle is less about the headline names and more about the possibility that roster plans could get nudged by players suddenly weighing college over the pros. A Louisiana lawsuit involving 33 athletes has already put the issue on a bigger stage, and with other players getting temporary legal protection, the Packers have at least one more off-the-field variable to monitor as camp decisions start to matter more. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Rookie Absence At Camp Just Took A More Concerning Turn
The Packers Wednesday injury report offered another reminder that training camp can turn quickly from routine to worrisome, especially for a rookie trying to make a first impression. Green Bay listed players on the Physically Unable to Perform list and others who did not practice, and the attention naturally fell on edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, whose recent absence had already made him a player to monitor as the preseason and regular season calendars keep moving.
Matt LaFleur offered the first real explanation for Dennis-Suttons missed time, saying the rookie was dealing with overheating and then an illness rather than anything tied to conditioning. The update helps narrow the focus for a player whose camp availability has become a point of concern, even if the full picture around his early August setback still leaves one important question hanging for the Packers as they work through the rest of practice. [Read more 🡒]