Packers practice reveals telling change on the offensive line, and it hints at what Green Bay wants to do against the Bears
Green Bay added three offensive linemen last week, and one of those veterans took on a different role when the team returned to practice Wednesday.
The Green Bay Packers are not hiding what they want to do in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. When the team returned to practice Wednesday, veteran guard Kevin Zeitler was already part of the starting offensive line, a change from how the Packers handled him the week before.
Zeitler signed on Wednesday of last week, ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, and practiced three days before that matchup. However, he didn’t work with the first unit at right guard. Donovan Jennings and Travis Glover split the reps at that spot instead, and Glover played.
That’s no longer the case. On Wednesday, Zeitler lined up with this starting offensive line at practice. The Packers had Jordan Morgan at left tackle, Laken Tomlinson at left guard, Sean Rhyan at center, Zeitler at right guard, and Anthony Belton at right tackle.
That group could be the starting offensive line against the Bears on Sunday. And that’s because Zeitler now had more time to learn the offense. He has a better understanding of how the system operates, what the coaching staff wants, and which adjustments quarterback Jordan Love could make at the line of scrimmage. All of that could put him in line to play in Week 5.
In fairness, Glover played a solid game against the Buccaneers. Still, Zeitler is a former Pro Bowl guard, and he would be an upgrade over Glover at right guard. Green Bay could be in a much better position to protect Love with the veteran on the field.
Three additions, different timelines
The Packers added three offensive linemen last week. Tomlinson was the first of them to make an impact, starting at left guard against Tampa Bay. Zeitler is the second.
The third piece is guard-tackle hybrid Mekhi Becton. He is still recovering to some extent from a shoulder injury he suffered and played through last year. Becton remains on the practice squad, and Green Bay didn’t elevate him for the Buccaneers game.
The difference between the two veterans is clear. Becton is a player the Packers potentially want for the long term, and the front office is being patient with his development and his recovery. Zeitler, on the other hand, signed to play right now. Green Bay could put him on the field against Chicago as soon as this weekend.
Injuries still affect the line
The Packers are still without two potential (or former) starters along the offensive line. Left guard Aaron Banks and Jacob Monk, who opened the season as the starting right guard, both missed the Tampa Bay game.
Banks has played only 22 snaps this season, and all of them came against the New York Jets in Week 2. He has dealt with knee and toe injuries throughout the season and remains out. Monk is handling a quad injury and hasn’t returned to practice.
Green Bay has shuffled bodies at both guard spots, and the team needed outside help to stabilize the group. If Zeitler can play, though, he would be an immediate upgrade over Monk, Glover, and essentially any option the Packers have at the position.
