One of the more frustrating storylines for the Green Bay Packers is the unavailability of left guard-turned-center Elgton Jenkins. On top of his contract gripes, which are completely valid, the 29-year-old offensive lineman began training camp on the NFI list for an undisclosed back injury.
The Packers have invested in the offensive line plenty, drafting Jordan Morgan in the first round last year, locking in right tackle Zach Tom with a lucrative extension recently, and adding Aaron Banks in free agency to be the new starting left guard.
It’s a group that Jenkins has expressed he wants to be a part of, and Jordan Love and the rest of the Packers’ backfield will be happy to have him in the lineup.
Love said on Wednesday that he’s looking forward to getting his starting center back in the mix to build up the quarterback-center chemistry.
Jordan Love eager to rebuild rhythm with Elgton Jenkins at center
"You want to be feeling as comfortable as possible and get as many banked reps in with our relationship and make sure there's no issues with snaps, no balls on the ground, things like that," Love said, according to the team’s official website.
Jenkins and Love have exchanged snaps in the past, but the quarterback is right in wanting to get as much work in as possible. It’s part of what makes his injury and contract status so concerning.
READ MORE: Jordan Love just received the most scorching-hot prediction from a former NFL GM
Love indicated that he and Jenkins could get back to work once his new center is back from injury, not mentioning the contract situation. Whether Jenkins returns to the field without his contract restructured remains to be seen.
It backs up a positive update from Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
"Once Elgton Jenkins comes back from a back injury (and that should be soon), Sean Rhyan will move back to guard, which will give the team some flexibility to see how former first-rounder Jordan Morgan looks at left tackle vs. Rasheed Walker, who is in a contract year," Breer writes.
Certainly, the expectation is that Jenkins will operate in a similar manner as he did in the mandatory portions of minicamp, showing up but not participating until his contract status is structured to his liking. Still, based on the response from Love and even head coach Matt LaFleur, Jenkins' return is more a matter of 'when' instead of 'if'.
In the meantime, as somewhat expected, right guard Sean Rhyan has taken on most of the duties of the starting center in Jenkins’ absence. Jacob Monk, a 2024 fifth-round pick, also took some reps with the ones with Rhyan back at right guard, so the offense did get in some extra looks.
At the very least, that gives Packers fans an indication of the pecking order at the position should anything keep Jenkins off the field during the regular season.