Ahead of his third season, backup center/guard Jacob Monk is battling to earn a spot on the Green Bay Packers roster. Since being drafted in the fifth round out of Duke, he hasn't shown the requisite growth to guarantee his place on the team. It didn't help that Monk missed this year's OTAs while dealing with an injury.
While he hasn't punched his ticket in 2026, his stock is trending up. During Friday's Family Night practice, with right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and left guard Aaron Banks sitting out, Monk suited up at right guard with Anthony Belton sliding over to tackle. On Sunday, Monk participated with the first-stringers again, even as Bako-Bewele returned to the lineup.
That may not seem like much, but it would seem the Packers had other, better options. On Friday, penciling in veteran Darian Kinnard, Bako-Bewele's presumed backup, would have allowed Belton to stay at guard. Instead, the Packers called on Monk.
Jacob Monk has revived his roster hopes in Packers training camp
That bodes well for Monk's chances. With the Packers likely to carry at least eight or nine linemen on the 53-man roster, there should be something of a scrum to determine the last man in.
Rookie Jager Burton is a lock; he may even swipe a starting spot on the interior. Kinnard, who appeared in 17 games and started four last season, still seems like Green Bay's best backup tackle. That leaves Monk, Travis Glover, and John Williams leading the way for the last one or two spots.
After Monk did little of anything last season, and with Glover and Williams likely to warrant at least a test drive coming off injuries, he seemed like the potential odd man out. Now, that feels less likely.
He still has work to do, of course. Williams, a 2025 seventh-rounder who lost his rookie year to injury, has impressed thus far. Glover is healthy after missing all last season. At tackle, he may carry a bit of extra value. With Burton's arrival and Green Bay's versatility on the starting interior, bench depth at the tackle spots might be slightly more relevant.
But the Packers could have replaced Bako-Bewele and Banks with anyone. They called on Burton - no surprise there - and Monk. Even in an exhibition, that's something. Family Night is meant to be fun, but the Packers also take it seriously.
The whole point of the event (okay, at least a big part of it) is to put on a show for the thousands of attending fans. Participating is a privilege, as well as a nod of confidence from the coaching staff. Monk performed well enough to earn first-team reps again on Sunday.
That's no roster-spot guarantee, but it's a strong step in the right direction.
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