Heading into training camp, the Green Bay Packers seemed mostly set on the offensive line. Sure, Elgton Jenkins' contract issues loom over the group, but the team has given plenty of indications that they’ll be resolved eventually. Besides, a back injury is keeping him out of action, too.
Then there’s the position battle at left tackle with Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan, but that just speaks to the depth up front, because either option is viable.
But then camp started, and the Packers had to shift Sean Rhyan to center and work in Jacob Monk with the ones so Rhyan could also get work at his usual right guard spot. Now, free-agent acquisition Aaron Banks is out with a back injury.
The good news is that he returned to practice on Sunday, but it’s something to monitor.
Injuries leave Packers testing their depth on the offensive line
Overall, the Packers shouldn’t overlook the opportunity to see what they have in the depth of the offensive line. With Jenkins and Banks dealing with injuries, Green Bay’s coaching staff can get a closer look at players like Monk and Morgan in more spots, as well as Travis Glover in the rotation.
Unfortunately, Monk hasn't exactly been inspiring at center, and Glover still bears the marks of a poor playoff performance.
Training camp is all about opportunity, and players and coaches alike have to embrace those opportunities no matter the circumstances. Still, it’s coming at the expense of the cohesion of the starting five ahead of a pivotal season for quarterback Jordan Love.
Love mentioned the comfort level of the center-quarterback exchange when talking about Jenkins’ absence.
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It’s early in camp, so it’s not a world-shattering thing for Jenkins and Banks to miss some time, but the longer the Packers offense goes without the two biggest changes to the offensive line, the unit is that much more behind the eight-ball when it comes to chemistry up front, a far-too-undervalued aspect of offensive line play.
Hopefully, Banks’ return is a sign that he is close to 100 percent and over the back issue that sidelined him earlier.
He was initially day-to-day with his injury, while there’s no timetable for Jenkins' return. While the experience for the depth is a positive in the meantime, if there are any struggles up front early for the Packers’ offense once Jenkins and Banks are back, fans can easily look back to the early portions of training camp without those two key pieces as a big reason why.