Packers have an obvious solution staring them in the face, but ignoring it is already costing games in the regular season
Green Bay’s refusal to address the guard spots is risking Jordan Love’s health, and the team is not accomplishing what it wanted.
The Green Bay Packers lost 39-22 to the Minnesota Vikings in the regular season opener, and the biggest issue was the offensive line, particularly the guard positions. Starting Donovan Jennings and Jacob Monk at those spots in the first game of a season produced predictable results, including a second half where the entire Packers’ offense collapsed.
Green Bay had options to fix this problem before the season began, and the franchise’s unwillingness to act is now threatening both wins and quarterback Jordan Love’s health going forward.
A problem the Packers chose not to solve
The Packers were forced to start Jennings and Monk only to a certain extent. Offensive guard Aaron Banks not being available for Week 1 pushed Jennings into the lineup, and the team opted against giving fifth-round rookie Jager Burton the nod. That combination left Green Bay with two interior starters the coaching staff shouldn’t fully trust in either the run game or pass protection.
The guard play wasn’t the only issue along the offensive line. Left tackle Jordan Morgan didn’t play well, and center Sean Rhyan had some tough moments too. But the guards were the main problem, and you could see it in the way the offense operated. Green Bay couldn’t establish the run or keep Love clean in the pocket, and at a certain point, that becomes impossible to overcome.
The Packers’ philosophy of developing young players is valid. But there is a threshold where that commitment turns into a liability, and starting two guards who can implode an entire offensive operation crosses it. The team is now risking Love’s health and the broader trajectory of its season because of a position group it chose not to upgrade.
External options still exist, but it’s harder now
The free agent market still has viable guard options who could improve the Packers’ situation. Kevin Zeitler, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, stands out as the most prominent name. He’s older, but he remains at least an above-average starter in the NFL. Players like Mekhi Becton and James Daniels also carry starting experience and could provide upgrades over what Green Bay ran out against Minnesota.
The problem is timing. With the regular season already underway, the Packers are likely reluctant to sign a veteran guard and try to integrate him into the system on the fly. Offensive linemen need time to learn blocking schemes and adjustments, and communication would be an obvious issue.
This is exactly why the offseason and training camp existed as windows to address the position. The Packers had months to explore the market, bring in competition, and shore up the interior line. They didn’t, and the cost showed up immediately in Week 1.
Banks returning could upgrade the situation enough to make the guard play passable, particularly in matchups that don’t feature a defense as aggressive as Brian Flores’ Vikings unit. But passable is a low bar for a team with playoff aspirations and a franchise quarterback it invested heavily in. The Packers neglected the guard position, and Week 1 against Minnesota showed exactly how that decision can unravel an offense.
