Packers’ offensive player spills the beans that the biggest training camp battle has already been decided ahead of regular season opener
Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan both had good cases to win the job.
No positional battle has been more intense and impactful for the Green Bay Packers than the left tackle fight between incumbent Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan. Training camp and preseason are over, and a final call hasn’t been made — at least, not publicly. However, Walker said in the locker room after Monday’s practice that he will start on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
Asked by reporters if he would start at left tackle in Week 1, Walker was direct: “Yes.”
Head coach Matt LaFleur hadn’t given an indication about whether he had made his decision or not.
“We shall see next week. I’ll let you know,” LaFleur answered when asked if the decision was made. “Maybe.”
What matters for the Packers
Walker has been the starter since David Bakhtiari got hurt for the most recent time, after one game in the 2023 season. Before training camp, general manager Brian Gutekunst mentioned that the Packers highly valued Walker’s experience. However, last year’s first-round pick had a strong preseason and put himself in a position to challenge the status quo.
“Anytime we make a decision, it’s who do we feel most comfortable with that’s going to go out there and compete to the best of their ability and help us win,” LaFleur had explained. “It always comes down to that. Thankfully, we feel good about a couple of options.”
During the past few years, the Packers have rotated starters at different spots. The most recent ones were at right guard, with Jon Runyan and Sean Rhyan in 2023, as well as Rhyan and Morgan in 2024. But they took that approach at left tackle in 2022, when Bakhtiari wasn’t 100% physically and rotated with Yosh Nijman for most of the season. A new rotation isn’t totally off the table, but LaFleur didn’t sound as enthusiastic about it.
“We’ve gone out there and played multiple guys. I think sometimes it can be good, certainly in terms of just the urgency of playing every play at a high level,” LaFleur added. “The one thing that is always a concern is the continuity factor, in terms of how those guys are working their combination blocks or getting off the ball together.”
Rapport with the guard
It’s been tough for the coaching staff to keep the same offensive line formation in place, especially on the left side. First, Walker and Aaron Banks started, with Morgan playing mostly at right guard — Rhyan had to move to center while Elgton Jenkins wasn’t practicing.
Later, Walker got hurt, forcing Morgan to play left tackle for the entire preseason. With Walker back, Aaron Banks had a back issue pop up, making Morgan move back inside to left guard. Continuity may be a problem, especially because Jenkins didn’t practice on Monday. Presumably, that would mean Rhyan moving from right guard to center, with Morgan playing at right guard.
“[Aaron Banks] has missed a bunch of time, and that’s why these three practices have been great,” LaFleur pointed out. “It’ll be the closest simulation that we’ll have to game-like. All that is important just to get those reps.”
The battle at left tackle has two layers. First, LaFleur obviously wants the best possible option to win now and protect Jordan Love. At the same time, Walker will be a free agent next offseason, which means Morgan is likely the left tackle of the future.
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