The Green Bay Packers were struck with some incredibly unfortunate news surrounding offensive tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, and it was so serious that Matt LaFleur's contention plans may be ruined if they don't bring in a former NFC North rival.
Bako-Bewele suffered a serious knee injury in the team's Week 2 win against the New York Jets, as he suffered a torn patellar tendon that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. This injury is destabilizing for what is already an unwatchably poor Packers offensive line, and this came at a time when the market isn't overly flush with replacements.
Enter Taylor Decker, who remains on the open market after he and the Detroit Lions brought an end to their partnership after almost a decade together, and may be the best bet for a beat-up Packers side. Green Bay may have no better choice than to bring in someone who has been a thorn in their side for years when he was in blue and white.
Packers need to consider signing Taylor Decker after Zach Bako-Bewele injury
The Packers will need to lean more heavily on former second-round pick Anthony Belton in the wake of this injury, but his poor play when Bako-Bewele was healthy is likely not going to inspire much confidence. Of the veteran options out there on the market, Decker has some upside, even if he may need to switch from left to right tackle.
Decker has likely been holding out hope that a contender will take a swing at him, and Green Bay might be one of the few teams out there that could satisfy his desire for a deep playoff run and guarantee him a starting role.
Decker's Pro Football Focus grade last season ranked 41st out of 89 qualified tackles, showing that he can still use his veteran guile to hold his own. Decker is not a long-term answer for the Packers, but this team is running out of trusted options who could keep Jordan Love upright in the pocket.
Taylor Decker could help a beat-up Packers team
Decker is not going to improve upon Bako-Bewele this season. However, unless the Packers are blown away by names like Jonah Williams, Cam Robinson, or whatever is physically left of Jack Conklin, there may be no more ready-made improvement than Decker.
Green Bay is one Belton or Jordan Morgan injury away from seventh-rounder John Williams moving into the starting lineup.
While the Lions continue to show that they aren't the same without Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn excelling in their coordinator roles, watching one of the key members of their recent success in Decker making plays in Packers green and gold could be a delicious bit of iron for Green Bay fans to savor.
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