Brian Gutekunst confirmed what we’ve long suspected: The Green Bay Packers view Elgton Jenkins as a tackle.
In his media availability last week, the Packers’ GM referred to Jenkins and David Bakhtiari as the “two tackles.” This is a legally binding statement.
Plenty of fans and analysts believed the plan was to put Jenkins at right tackle after he played All-Pro-level football at tackle last season. Moving him to tackle seems to clear up Green Bay’s ideal configuration of offensive linemen. We now know four of the five starters — so what does that mean for the last spot?
The plan was always to shift Jenkins to tackle after the former second-round pick proved he could do anything. In 2020, Ben Fennell said that Green Bay meant to have Jenkins take over. But Lucas Patrick got hurt in Week 1, and the Packers had to readjust the entire operation. Jenkins had an 87.2 pass-block grade in those 33 snaps at right tackle in Week 1.
Of course, Jenkins and Bakhtiari aren’t 100% yet. Although they’re not on the PUP list and starting on the initial 53-man roster, we don’t know if either tackle will be back in time for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Matt LaFleur was non-committal when asked if either tackle would practice last week.
“We’ll see when we get out there,” LaFleur said of Jenkins and Bakhtiari’s participation in 11-on-11s on Wednesday. Via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, it later looked like Jenkins remained limited to individual drills. Since then, we’ve seen Jenkins participate in individual drills, but he’s yet to return to team drills. As of this writing, Jenkins’ status for Week 1 remains unclear.
Jenkins also mysteriously missed practice on the previous Sunday, and LaFleur wouldn’t clarify why (because he didn’t have to). Many speculated the absence could be contract-related, but Jenkins told The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman that the absence was unrelated to his contract — or the left shoulder brace he wore.
LaFleur referring to him as a tackle is good news for Jenkins’ inevitable contract, as tackles make more than guards. Green Bay won’t rush it, but the hope is their apparent right tackle will return to full strength soon.
But I digress. The starting tackles are locked in. As expected, Myers has had an excellent preseason and firmly established himself as the starting center. Runyan is ahead of the pack at left guard and doesn’t seem in danger of losing the spot. In a perfect world, your offensive line is David Bakhtiari–Jon Runyan Jr.-Josh Myers-Question Markerson-Elgton Jenkins.
So who is the mystery man at right guard?
Jake Hanson and Royce Newman mostly held the spot through the preseason. They seem the most likely options, though that’s no certainty. The most common first-team pairing was Hanson at RG and Newman at RT. However, Newman started most of 2021 at RG and played there in the second team the last few weeks.
Hanson was an afterthought in his first two seasons with Green Bay, but his role evolved this off-season. The Packers envision Hanson as the new Lucas Patrick, the former primary interior backup who joined the Chicago Bears in free agency. Hanson’s best spot may be center, where he played in college. But he’s done enough at guard to be in consideration for a starting spot.
Earlier this month, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said that Hanson had one of the best camps of any offensive linemen. “He has an ability to play any inside position,” he said. “Hopefully, he does a good job over the next preseason games and proves it.”
If Jenkins doesn’t start in Week 1 and either Newman or Zach Tom starts at RT, Hanson is your most likely starting guard.
But if Green Bay doesn’t need Newman at tackle, he’ll get the edge over Hanson thanks to his experience at the spot last season. Newman at RG and Tom at RT was a better pairing than Hanson at RG and Newman at RT this preseason. Newman was solid enough in both roles, earning a 72.5 PFF grade, but guard appears to be his strength. The Packers seem committed to giving Newman every chance to establish himself as a starter. Therefore, if Jenkins plays Week 1, guard will be Newman’s spot to lose.
Of course, there are rogue options out there. Tom looks more like an established starter than a rookie, and you can only keep an ascending player benched for so long. Tom surprisingly hasn’t gotten much play at right guard, but he’s played more than a few snaps at left guard. Could the Packers play Tom at LG and move Runyan to the right side? That seems like the less likely route, but this would be the way to get the team’s five best offensive linemen together.
With Jenkins’ status for Week 1 still uncertain, there are too many unknowns to determine the configuration of Green Bay’s starting O-line confidently. Confirming Jenkins as the right tackle answers some questions, though. Based on the Packers’ usual MO, your starting right guard is likely either Hanson or Newman. But Tom has played well enough to throw a wrench into that plan. If the team wants their five best guys, that list has to include Tom. One thing is certain: That right guard spot is far from locked in.
