Packers offensive line goes from strength to question in a flash
Heading into the season, the Green Bay Packers were very excited about the prospect of having both David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins healthy at the same time. The duo easily forms one of the best left sides of an offensive line, if not the best in the NFL. “We’re very excited that they could stay […]
Heading into the season, the Green Bay Packers were very excited about the prospect of having both David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins healthy at the same time. The duo easily forms one of the best left sides of an offensive line, if not the best in the NFL.
“We’re very excited that they could stay healthy and get out there and be out there consistently, but in both the pass game and the run game – and you guys know that have been around here what they were able to do," Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said back in August. "When we run behind those guys, it’s an impressive duo, along with our other guys, in creating that consistency. But they’re two of the best that we’ve had here.”
Well, that all went down the toilet – and fast.
As of Week 3, Jenkins is dealing with a sprained MCL and Bakhtiari is dealing with swelling in the, yes, the same knee that has been giving him issues since he tore his ACL against the Tennessee Titans back in Week 16 of the 2020 season. It's unclear as to exactly how much time both players will miss, but you can bank on an extended absence for Jenkins.
"His [Bakhtiari's] knee is injured. There was swelling," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters Monday.
The Packers played Rasheed Walker at left tackle on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons and Royce Newman came in to replace Jenkins. LaFleur said Monday he and his staff will get together that evening to figure out a more permanent replacement plan for Jenkins.
But it's not all gloom and doom. Yes, there were some lumps and misfires between with Walker and Newman, but overall, they weren't awful. Per Pro Football Focus, the duo gave up one combined pressure -an allowed hurry from Walker- and both players were effective against what is a pretty damn good front seven.
"I was proud of the effort of the guys stepping in and stepping up," said LaFleur. "Royce came in and did a nice job. I thought Rasheed, for the most part, did a really nice job. Obviously he had the one penalty, but I thought all in all, I thought he did a good job."
Still the question remains: How often can a second-year seventh-round pick play consistently well? And even though Newman has starting experience, he didn't do enough to win a starting job over the summer.
There's certainly a world in which both guys play well all year long, but until we see that happen, it's fair to question.
And we'll quickly find out this Sunday when the Packers host the New Orleans Saints, who have yet to allow a touchdown on defense and are tied for the eighth-most sacks (7) through the first two weeks of play.
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Featured image via Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
