Frustration. Regret. Uncertainty.
Three words that perfectly encapsulate how many Green Bay Packers fans feel about Aaron Banks. He has struggled to stay healthy in his year-plus stay in Green Bay and hasn't played particularly well when available.
The Packers handed Banks $77 million in the first week of free agency last year and then gambled by restructuring his deal this offseason, a move that effectively guarantees him a roster spot through 2027.
Banks has battled injuries again this summer, putting his status for Week 1 up in the air. The frustration felt by Packers fans appears to have spilled over into a recent press conference with offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, who issued a pretty blunt warning to Banks.
"At some point, we're going to need him to go out there and put it all together for a string of time. Otherwise, you won't know if you can rely on him as the season goes. That's going to be a big thing for him over these next two weeks," Stenavich said, via Jason B. Hirsschorn of The Leap.
Tell us how you really feel, Steno.
It's harsh and blunt and the total opposite of coachspeak, but it's also understandable. It's not Banks' fault he's had to deal with bad injury luck, and he will be more frustrated than anyone. But Stenavich is right. The Packers don't know whether they can count on their veteran left guard, and again, it's not like he was pulling up any trees when healthy last year.
Adam Stenavich's comments add more uncertainty about whether Aaron Banks will remain a Packers starter
Will Banks even start when healthy? Matt LaFleur isn't sure.
LaFleur said earlier this month that rookie Jager Burton and Jacob Monk are "going to make it extremely difficult" for Banks to get his job back when healthy.
That hasn't yet translated to a positional change, as Banks resumed his role as the starting left guard during 11-on-11 drills at practice last week, but it would appear his name isn't yet written into the lineup in permanent marker.
Forget contract numbers for a moment. If every Packers offensive lineman earned $0, would Banks be among the best five?
The problem is that we can't forget about the contract. Green Bay is paying Banks like he's one of the best interior linemen in all of football.
Per Spotrac, Banks is the NFL's ninth-highest-paid guard. Yet his dismal 53.5 Pro Football Focus grade last season ranked 64th at the position. PFF grades aren't the be-all and end-all, but it highlights the significant gulf between salary and production.
Jager Burton could give the Packers no choice at left guard
Burton, a fifth-round rookie who can play all three interior positions, could leave the Packers with no choice. He has already earned high praise from LaFleur, and the Kentucky product is proving why he was considered a Day 3 steal in April.
It comes back to Stenavich's comments about being able to rely on Banks. The Packers don't know if they can. They sure couldn't last season.
Burton is still a work in progress, but he already looks ready to play meaningful snaps in the regular season. He caught attention in last Friday's preseason game against the Denver Broncos when matched one-on-one with first-team All-Pro defensive end Zach Allen. Burton not only held up against Allen, but threw him to the ground on one play.
The rookie lineman needs to work on his consistency, but that will come with experience, which he can only gain by playing.
Burton has shown real potential in the run game, a problem area for the Packers' offensive line in recent years.
It feels inevitable that Green Bay's fifth-round pick will soon force his way into the lineup. Perhaps the only hope for Banks is that Burton could slot in at another position.
There's uncertainty at right guard, a starting job Anthony Belton has seemingly lost this summer. Jacob Monk has impressed the coaching staff and gotten first-team opportunities, but he's looked far less consistent than Burton in the preseason.
Through two games, Burton has received a solid PFF pass-blocking grade of 64.7, whereas Monk has disappointed in pass protection with a 38.8 grade. Burton held his own against Allen, but the Pro Bowl pass-rusher generated an instant pressure on Jordan Love when matched up against Monk.
It's entirely feasible that Burton could shift to right guard in the Packers' preferred starting lineup. Stenavich also said the rookie will cross-train at center this week, which was his college position.
But it's hard to ignore the comments coming out of 1265 Lombardi Ave regarding Banks. First, with LaFleur saying Banks might not get his job back. Now, with Stenavich's blunt comments about needing to know if the Packers "can rely on him."
Forget your coachspeak. Stenavich said it how it is, and his comments echo the opinion of many Packers fans. It just adds more uncertainty about whether Banks will remain a starter this season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google