The Green Bay Packers made several tweaks to the offensive line with the expectation that Jordan Love would have better protection next season.
However, the Packers may not have their line at full strength when they visit the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.
Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and left guard Aaron Banks are recovering from injuries ahead of the opener, and based on head coach Matt LaFleur's latest update, their availability is in doubt.
"We'll see," Matt LaFleur said when asked whether Bako-Bewele and Banks will play this week (via The Athletic's Matt Schneidman).
The Packers aren't sure if Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele will be ready for Week 1
While that's not a resounding no, it doesn't inspire confidence either. Then again, his response isn't necessarily surprising, given the questions about Bako-Bewele and Banks in the weeks preceding the Vikings game.
Last week, Bako-Bewele was asked whether he'd suit up in the season opener, and he stated that he should be ready but wasn't "quite there" yet. He is still recovering from a partially torn patellar tendon that ended his 2025 season.
On the other hand, Banks dealt with injuries last year and sat out a good portion of training camp due to knee tendonitis. The sixth-year veteran took part in team drills at the back end of camp, but it's uncertain whether he'll be ready for Week 1.
But even if either Bake-Bewele or Banks were to suit up in Week 1, there's a strong chance that they may not be at full strength.
To prevent further injury risk, Green Bay may be better off holding them out, even if that doesn't bode well for Jordan Love.
What will the Packers do if Zach Bake Bewele and Aaron Banks aren't good to go?
At this point, it would be a pleasant surprise if Bako-Bewele and Banks suit up for the opener. The Packers may need to lean on rookie Jager Burton and Anthony Belton at left guard and right tackle, respectively.
Burton flashed in the offseason but may not be ready to be a full-time starter. For his part, Belton will have a chance to rebuild his stock after being phased out in favor of Jacob Monk at right guard. The 2024 second-round pick has struggled to hit his stride and is expected to be the swing tackle this season.
Keep in mind that even if Banks and Bako-Bewele were at full strength, the offensive line was a reason for concern. Specifically, both guard spots are question marks because Green Bay doesn't have a clear answer at either position. This directly affects the team's ability to open lanes in the running game and keep Jordan Love's jersey clean.
Love has a wide array of weapons in his arsenal, but if he doesn't have enough time to find his receivers, it will be moot. On the other hand, Josh Jacobs is unavailable while he remains on the Commissioner's Exempt List. That means that the backfield tandem of MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson might not have enough room to work their magic.
And just like that, the opener against the Vikings suddenly looks more difficult. The status of Bako-Bewele and Banks will be something to monitor throughout the week.
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