The Packers’ offensive line just took another brutal hit, and the fallout could push Green Bay toward an unexpected answer on the open market.
Zach Bako-Bewele’s knee injury in the Week 2 win over the New York Jets is a season-ender, with the tackle suffering a torn patellar tendon that will keep him out for the rest of the year. For a Packers front already described as an unwatchably poor unit, the loss only makes the situation more fragile, especially with the available replacement pool looking thin.
That’s where Taylor Decker comes in. The longtime Detroit Lions tackle is still unsigned after his run with the franchise ended following almost a decade together, and he may be the most realistic veteran option left for Green Bay. If the Packers are searching for someone who can step into the lineup and help steady the ship, Decker fits the profile better than most of what’s available.
Green Bay will have to ask more from former second-round pick Anthony Belton now, but his play before Bako-Bewele went down wasn’t exactly calming anyone’s nerves. Decker, even with the possibility of moving from left tackle to right tackle, at least brings a track record that suggests he can survive in the role.
There’s also the matter of what Decker wants at this stage. He has likely been hoping a contender would come calling, and the Packers can offer two things that matter: a starting job and a chance at a deep playoff run.
Last season, Decker earned a Pro Football Focus grade that ranked 41st out of 89 qualified tackles. That doesn’t make him a star, but it does show he can still use experience and savvy to hold his own. He is not a long-term fix for Green Bay, but the Packers are running out of trusted bodies who can help keep Jordan Love upright.
And while Decker would not be an upgrade over Bako-Bewele this season, Green Bay may not find a more practical option unless it is sold on names like Jonah Williams, Cam Robinson, or whatever is physically left of Jack Conklin. The alternative is a depth chart that gets even thinner, with the Packers only one Belton or Jordan Morgan injury away from seventh-rounder John Williams being forced into the starting lineup.
If Green Bay does make the move, it would add a sharp twist to the rivalry. Decker spent years as a thorn in the Packers’ side while wearing blue and white, and seeing him suit up in green and gold would give Packers fans a particularly satisfying bit of irony to chew on.
In Other News...
Packers Face An Unusual Lambeau Threat Hours Before Kickoff
A Thursday night game at Lambeau Field usually brings the kind of demand that disappears long before kickoff, but this week has been different. The Packers still have roughly 700 primary tickets listed on the official market, and secondary-market prices have slipped as the matchup with the Falcons has approached, an unusual scene for a franchise known for a long streak of continuous sellouts.
The softening demand appears tied in part to Atlantas poor early-season record, which has not exactly turned this into a must-see draw for casual buyers. With kickoff only hours away, Green Bay may need to lean on pricing adjustments or other channels to move the remaining seats, a rare bit of game-day business intrigue for a place where tickets are usually the hard part. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Jacobs Case Just Raised A Bigger Packers Question
The legal side of Josh Jacobs battery case took another turn this week when Judge Marc Hammer denied the motion to permanently seal the video evidence tied to the incident. Instead of disappearing into the court file, the material, including footage from inside Jacobs garage, will now be handled by the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department, which will be responsible for any public records requests.
For the Packers, the more immediate concern is the football side of a situation that still has no clear endpoint. Jacobs remains on the NFL commissioner exempt list as the league reviews the video, and the lack of a suspension announcement keeps the team in a waiting game, with an important roster question hanging over a player Green Bay expected to be part of its plans. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Face A Tougher Thursday Test At Lambeau Than Fans Expected
The Packers get an early chance to settle back into Lambeau on Thursday night, but this one is shaping up to be a little more demanding than the spread might suggest. Green Bay is favored by 4.5 points against Atlanta in the Week 3 opener, yet the matchup comes with enough uncertainty to keep things interesting, especially with the Packers dealing with offensive line injuries and the betting market leaning toward a lower-scoring game.
Atlanta has not exactly looked explosive through two weeks, but the Falcons do have Michael Penix, Jr. back at quarterback, which adds another layer to a game that already feels tighter than a typical home favorite would prefer. For Green Bay, the bigger concern is whether the front five can hold up well enough to let the offense function normally, because if this turns into the kind of grind the numbers are hinting at, every possession at Lambeau could matter. [Read more 🡒]