Matt LaFleur isn’t buying the criticism aimed at Green Bay’s right guard spot after Week 8.
The Packers started Laken Tomlinson at right guard even with Kevin Zeitler available, and the decision came under scrutiny once the position had a shaky day. But when reporters pressed LaFleur on why Tomlinson got the nod, the head coach made it clear he didn’t share the negative read on the performance.
“You didn’t think our play at right guard was that great?” asked the Packers head coach.
“Okay, you and I can agree to disagree on that, so I guess that is your opinion.”
LaFleur did not say whether Tomlinson would keep the job in Week 9, but he did defend the veteran’s work. Tomlinson was making his first snaps at the position since 2016, and LaFleur said he handled the assignment well.
“Yeah, potentially, it is a week-to-week league. But I think Laken went out there and did a pretty good job.
There were some looks where, especially in the run game, we need to be better on our details. But it did not fall on the individual.
It was on the collective, and there were some bad plays called in there as well,” LaFleur added.
The numbers tell a split story. Tomlinson finished with a 72.3 PFF grade in pass protection, but he checked in at 47.5 as a run blocker. That gap helps explain why the reaction around his play was so mixed.
For now, the Packers appear comfortable leaning into the pass-protection side of the equation. Green Bay is 5-3, and LaFleur’s comments make it clear the staff values keeping the quarterback clean even if that means giving up some efficiency on the ground. Zeitler could give the run game a boost, but the coaching staff seems to trust Tomlinson more in the passing game, and that’s where the priority sits.
In Other News...
Packers Under Fire Over Christian Watson Injury Decision
Christian Watsons return to the field Sunday has become one of the more uncomfortable storylines around the Packers, not because of what he did once he was back, but because of how quickly the situation escalated in the first place. The wide receiver was taken to the hospital during the game after a frightening injury episode, and the fact that he was back on the sideline and then back in uniform less than an hour later has put Green Bays medical decision-making under a harsh spotlight.
The scrutiny has only grown because the optics are so hard to ignore, especially for a team already dealing with the kind of questions that can linger long after the final whistle. The Packers say Watson was cleared after medical evaluation, but the episode has still drawn comparisons to other recent NFL health controversies, and it leaves Green Bay with an uneasy conversation about risk, caution and where the line should be when a player wants back in the game. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Run Game Frustration Just Hit A Tough Financial Wall
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Jonathan Taylor has been floated as the kind of back who could change the conversation, but the Packers are not operating with much room to maneuver. Jacobs legal baggage has only added another layer of complexity, and for now the more realistic path may be to look inward and find help for the offensive line instead of chasing a new runner. It is a reminder that in the NFL, fixing a weakness is often easier said than paid for. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Are Closing In On A Defensive Boost They Need Badly
Micah Parsons is edging closer to a return, and for a Packers defense that could use every bit of help it can get, the timing matters. The star pass rusher has been working his way back from a torn ACL, and Green Bay has been preparing for the possibility that he could rejoin practice this week. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has been planning daily with that return in mind, while coach Matt LaFleur has also signaled optimism that Parsons is nearing the next step.
The Packers are still going to handle this carefully, which makes sense given the severity of the injury and the stakes for a player they expect to lean on heavily. Once Parsons is able to practice, Green Bay can begin the process of moving him off the Physically Unable to Perform list, but the real question is how quickly he can ramp up after such a long layoff. For now, the team appears to be closing in on a defensive boost it has badly needed, even if the final timeline is still being managed day by day. [Read more 🡒]