The Kevin Zeitler addition was supposed to give the Packers another answer inside. Instead, for now, he’s been more of a depth piece waiting for his turn.
Green Bay signed the former Wisconsin Badger and Pro Bowler to a one-year, $4 million deal after the team’s rough start to the 2026 season. The protection around Jordan Love has improved since then, but the run game still hasn’t taken a big step forward, and Zeitler has not played an offensive snap for the Packers.
That changed in conversation, at least, when offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich addressed the situation on Tuesday and laid out why Zeitler hasn’t cracked the lineup yet.
“Well, when we signed him, he was coming off an injury with his knee. So, it was kind of a question mark. It took him a few weeks to get to the point where he’s at right now, where he was kind of working his way back into it.
What happened was Laken came in and really did a tremendous job, just coming in and really helping out our team and helping out our offensive line and really, you know, helping us, you know, becoming productive in a lot of senses. So, it just was one of those things where I thought he was going to come in and play, but Laken stepped up and did a nice job and it is what it is right now.
Would I hesitate to put him in a game? No.
I would not. He’s ready to play.”
That lines up with what Matt LaFleur said after Sunday’s game, when the Packers surprisingly moved Laken Tomlinson to right guard, a spot he hadn’t played in about a decade. LaFleur said the team didn’t think Tomlinson should be benched, but wanted to give Aaron Banks a chance at left guard. That decision helped explain why Zeitler remained on the sideline.
So far, Zeitler has logged only 15 snaps this season, and all of them have come on field goal protection.
The Packers’ current preferred offensive line, from left to right, is expected to be Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Laken Tomlinson and Anthony Belton. That picture has been complicated by injuries, though.
Zach Bako-Bewele, Green Bay’s starting right tackle, is on injured reserve with a full patellar tendon tear, and Rhyan is dealing with an injury that has pushed John Williams into the center spot. The second-team center, Jacob Monk, is also on injured reserve.
Green Bay still has more bodies in the mix beyond those names. The roster also includes Zeitler, Travis Glover, Jager Burton, Donovan Jennings and Mekhi Becton Sr. Glover, Burton and Jennings have all seen offensive action in the regular season this year, while Becton was only called up from the practice squad last week.
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 Right Guard Debate Just Got More Complicated After LaFleurs Defense
The Packers decision at right guard in Week 8 raised a few eyebrows, but Matt LaFleur spent Monday defending both the choice and Laken Tomlinsons performance. With Kevin Zeitler available, Green Bay still went with Tomlinson, and LaFleur pointed to the veterans work in pass protection as a reason the move made sense even if the overall run game never really got going.
What makes the situation more interesting now is that LaFleur stopped short of saying the job is settled for Week 9. He made it clear the Packers need better collective play on the ground, which leaves the right guard spot very much in play and adds another layer to a position battle that already had more questions than answers. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Run Game Frustration Just Hit A Tough Financial Wall
Green Bays frustration with its running game has reached the point where the obvious fix is also the hardest one to pull off. Josh Jacobs has not solved the problem the way the Packers hoped, but his contract makes the situation sticky, and the front office is boxed in as the trade deadline approaches. Even with the chatter around a possible upgrade, the financial reality is forcing the team to think more carefully about where it can actually make a meaningful change.
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 🡒]