Packers: Rick Wagner returned to practice on Friday

Packers right tackle Rick Wagner returned to practice on Friday.

There was good news for the Green Bay Packers offense on Friday.

According to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, right tackle Rick Wagner returned to practice. Owczarski added that he was wearing a left elbow support.

With just a couple of weeks to go until the Packers kick off the regular season against the Minnesota Vikings, Wagner has a bit of time to make a case for a starting spot at right tackle. His main competition comes from Billy Turner, who could be a starter at right tackle or right guard this season.

“It was nice to have him back out there,” head coach Matt LaFleur said after Friday’s practice. “That competition, he’s an experienced vet that’s played a lot of ball. We’re excited to get him back in the fold.”

It remains to be seen how the missed time will affect Wagner’s chances of securing a starting job.

Lane Taylor’s performances during practice could see him win the right guard job, which then leaves one spot on the right side of the line. Wagner would be competing with Turner for the job.

LaFleur hasn’t yet decided on the starting offensive line and could leave it until the week of the regular season opener against the Vikings.

“Until we get right up to game week, we’ll keep on circulating those guys through and try to find the best five,” LaFleur said.

Working in Wagner’s favor is his NFL experience. Every snap counts in practice, especially when joining a new team, but Wagner does have 87 career starts to his name so he has no shortage of experience playing at right tackle.

With Taylor making a strong case for the right guard job, it could come down to Wagner and Turner for the final position in the starting five. And the competition could go right down to the wire. This will be an interesting battle to watch over the next couple of weeks.