The Green Bay Packers made a forced in-game change on the offensive line against the New England Patriots, and that decision finally put veteran guard Kevin Zeitler on the field on offense. Green Bay signed Zeitler in free agency on Sept. 30, but he had only played on special teams before this game.

It was not a wanted decision at first, but the veteran finally had the opportunity to play his first offensive snaps of the regular season.

The switch came with around nine minutes left in the second quarter, with the Packers leading 17-7. Zeitler entered at right guard, Laken Tomlinson moved back to the left side, and Aaron Banks came off the field due to an injury.

Zeitler played only four offensive snaps at that point, and Banks came back into the game on the following drive. However, Zeitler returned late in the game during garbage time, finishing it with 20 snaps, and his performance on a limited sample size should give the Packers some baseline to at least explore a permanent change.

It is time to make a definitive move

Green Bay once again started the game with Aaron Banks at left guard and Laken Tomlinson at right guard. The coaching staff used the same configuration last week against the Carolina Panthers. The goal was to play Banks at his natural spot on the left side, even if that meant moving Tomlinson out of position.

Tomlinson had played well at left guard, but he hadn’t played on the right side since 2016. Therefore, the Packers asked a veteran to adjust to a different spot in the middle of the season so they could get Banks back in the lineup.

The formation didn’t work as well as the coaching staff hoped. The Packers gave up two sacks before the change in the first half, and both came from the guards. Banks allowed the first one at left guard, and Tomlinson allowed the second at right guard. Banks and Tomlinson allowed three pressures each during the Patriots game.

A long wait for Kevin Zeitler

Zeitler’s path to the field took a while. The Packers signed him 39 days before the Patriots game, and he was even a healthy scratch two weeks ago. Since his arrival, his contributions were limited to a few special teams snaps.

That’s an unusual timeline for a veteran whose natural position is right guard, which is exactly the spot where the Packers were struggling. Green Bay had a player built for that role on the roster for more than a month, and it still chose to move Tomlinson to the right side to keep Banks on the field.

Zeitler is 36 years old, so expectations need to be realistic. Nonetheless, he gives Green Bay something it didn’t have with the previous setup: two guards playing on the side where they’re most comfortable.

Throughout 20 offensive snaps at right guard, Kevin Zeitler didn’t allow a single pressure. To be fair, he only had four pass-block snaps. Still, he likely outplayed Banks both in run block and pass protection, which is supported by the preliminary PFF grades.

What comes next on the offensive line

The in-game experience finally showed that Zeitler can be part of the plan on offense after weeks spent waiting for his opportunity.

The Packers’ coaching staff now has a decision to make about the starting lineup. Banks was the reason behind the original shuffle, but putting Tomlinson back at his original spot and giving Zeitler more time, especially when starting center Sean Rhyan gets back, could make the offensive line find its best formation for the rest of the season.