The Packers’ reshuffled offensive line is still sorting itself out, and Donovan Jennings has made the kind of late push that changes a camp conversation fast.
What looked like a crowded, unforgiving interior race has turned into a real opening for the veteran lineman. Both guard spots are still unsettled, and Jennings has worked his way from potential roster casualty to a player firmly in the mix.
That climb showed up in the preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jennings got on the field ahead of several backups, and head coach Matt LaFleur liked what he saw.
"He played under control. I like the edge that he plays with," LaFleur said of Jennings' performance. "It's just sometimes you got to temper back a little bit and realize that you're not going to get a pancake on every play."
That last part matters. Jennings has clearly shown enough energy and bite to stand out, but the Packers want that intensity balanced with discipline. If he can keep that in check, he may not just survive final cuts - he could carve out a bigger role than he’s had in either of the last two seasons.
His standing has improved for more than one reason. Injuries have helped create opportunities, but Jennings has also earned more trust with his play. He’s even worked with the first-stringers in practice, and in the preseason opener he was on the field before Darian Kinnard, John Williams, or Travis Glover.
At this point, Glover looks like the player on the wrong side of the bubble. Against Pittsburgh, Jennings checked in at right guard with first-teamers Jorgan Morgan, Jacob Monk, Jager Burton, and Anthony Belton. That setup could easily show up again Friday when Green Bay faces the Denver Broncos in its second preseason game.
Jennings may already have built enough momentum to lock up a roster spot. He’s moved ahead of Glover, and he might even be ahead of Williams, who has put together a strong camp of his own.
Kinnard is another name to watch. He wasn’t among the first reserves to come off the bench against Pittsburgh, and the ankle injury he suffered in that game could complicate things. Both Monk and Jennings may have moved past him on the depth chart.
Jennings’ path to this point has been a long one. He signed with Green Bay in 2024 as an undrafted free agent out of South Florida, where he played 53 games across six seasons. That’s a lot of college football, just not much NFL experience.
He spent last year on the practice squad, signed a futures contract the following offseason, and then appeared in two games in 2025 for a total of 13 snaps. With Glover and Williams healthy and Burton added through the draft, Jennings looked like one of the players most at risk.
Now the picture has changed. If he keeps stacking good work and follows LaFleur’s advice to dial it back when needed, Jennings looks like a strong bet to stick.
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
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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 🡒]