Aaron Banks was back on the field Tuesday, but his return only sharpened the question hanging over the Packers’ offensive line: how much ground does the $77 million man still have to make up?
Banks took part in 11-on-11 drills for the first time in this year’s training camp, yet the competition around him has already moved. Jager Burton, a 2026 draft pick, and Jacob Monk have taken advantage of Banks’ absence and built momentum in the battle for playing time. That’s not the way this was supposed to unfold for a major free agent signing, and it leaves Banks in a spot he probably never should have reached in the first place.
He still looks like the favorite to win the job in the short term, but nothing about this situation feels settled. The Packers have a history of letting position battles drag into the regular season, so Tuesday’s return does not necessarily mean the issue is close to resolved. If anything, it just puts Banks back into a fight he now has to finish.
The bigger question is whether he can actually hold off Monk and Burton, or whether the Packers are staring at the possibility of carrying a very expensive backup. As things stand, that outcome can’t be ruled out, and if this is where the race sits now, it’s hard to imagine Banks still being with Green Bay in 2027.
Banks’ return also came as Jordan Love turned in his best practice of camp on Tuesday while continuing to build toward the regular season.
Elsewhere in camp, there’s a late push from Brenton Cox Jr., and Matt LaFleur has already laid out the plan for playing time in the final two preseason games. Friday night will be the last chance to see the starters on the field before Week 1.
The conversation around the Packers’ line has also spilled into fan debate, with one question looming large: if this three-way battle between Banks, Burton and Monk doesn’t produce enough answers - or if Anthony Belton falls out of the mix - should Green Bay call Kevin Zeitler’s agent?
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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
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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 🡒]