Packers 2022 roster preview: Will Royce Newman start at guard?

Royce Newman started 16 games for the Green Bay Packers as a rookie.

But there is no guarantee he will start this season, even with Lucas Patrick gone. There will be plenty of competition for the Packers’ starting jobs along the offensive line.

Can Newman build on his rookie season, and will he start this year?

2021 season review

Newman impressed in the summer and played well enough to land the Packers’ starting right guard job.

According to Pro Football Focus, Newman was the highest-graded rookie offensive lineman in the preseason, allowing zero pressures of 41 pass-block snaps.

Newman started 16 of the Packers’ 17 regular season games last season.

For the most part, he did a good job in the regular season, too. However, he wasn’t consistent and did make some big errors along the way. But that’s how it goes for rookies still adjusting to the NFL game.

When center Josh Myers missed time, veteran Lucas Patrick stepped in and played well. Once Myers returned, the Packers decided to shift Patrick to guard, which meant Newman lost his starting job late in the season.

Will he make the roster?

Yes. Newman will be competing for a starting job. At worst, he will be one of the Packers’ top backups.

What to expect in 2022

An excellent summer helped Newman land a starting job in 2021. He will need another impressive training camp and preseason to do it again.

Three of the starting jobs are locked in when fully healthy. David Bakhtiari will return as the starting left tackle, Josh Myers is the starting center, and Elgton Jenkins will likely be at right tackle, not guard, when he returns.

That leaves two openings at guard.

Jon Runyan Jr. will be tough to beat for the left guard job. Newman will likely be competing with rookies Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom for the starting right guard job.