It's a huge week for the Green Bay Packers.
They have been busy adding reinforcements to the offensive line following last week's embarrassment against the Atlanta Falcons. The Packers must rebound quickly against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and avoid falling to 1-3 on the season. It has been a rough start, but all they can do is keep moving forward.
Here are the latest Packers updates in our mid-week Lombardi Ave bulletin.
- Packers sign Kevin Zeitler to a one-year deal
- Jayden Reed is out for the rest of the season
- Packers quietly add another slot receiver to practice squad
- By the numbers
- Packers stories from around the web
- This day in Packers history
Packers sign Kevin Zeitler to a one-year deal
If you've got NFL experience at guard, you might soon receive a call from the Packers. They've added three guards in the past week, and former Pro Bowler Kevin Zeitler is the latest signing. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, it's a one-year deal worth up to $5 million.
Zeitler follows Laken Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton through the doors of 1265 Lombardi Ave. All three offer much-needed experience, but Zeitler is the most exciting addition. The 36-year-old showed no signs of slowing down with the Tennessee Titans last season and should be a big upgrade on Jacob Monk at right guard.
"Certainly, there's going to be a ramp-up period for him. As soon as he feels good and ready to go, he'll be in there," said head coach Matt LaFleur on Wednesday.
What can Packers fans expect?
"Everything that you're looking," said LaFleur. "He's stout. I think he can anchor in pass pro. He's really effective in the run game, whether it's zone scheme, gap scheme, he's done it all. There's nothing he hasn't seen or done. We've just got to get him ramped up."
Zeitler will start at right guard, while Tomlinson is a natural fit at left guard, depending on Aaron Banks' status. It's unclear what the plan is for Becton, who can play guard and tackle.
Jayden Reed is out for the rest of the season
LaFleur confirmed that wide receiver Jayden Reed requires neck surgery and will miss the remainder of the season. The Packers have placed Reed on injured reserve.
The good news is that LaFleur doesn't believe it's a career-threatening injury, but he expects Reed to miss a "significant amount of time." LaFleur described the injury as a "pretty scary deal."
More importantly than football, it's good to hear that Reed is doing OK and can now begin his road to recovery.
Packers quietly add another slot receiver to practice squad
According to Bill Huber of Packers On SI, Green Bay has signed slot wide receiver Coleman Owen to the practice squad.
Owen spent his rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts after going undrafted. He didn't catch a pass on offense but did return five kicks for an average of 28.2 yards.
The Packers may need more help in the slot following Reed's season-ending injury. Skyy Moore is the immediate replacement, and the team should eventually get Savion Williams back from injured reserve. There's also a pathway for Owen, though, who caught 78 passes for 1,245 yards and eight touchdowns for Ohio in 2024.
By the numbers
The numbers Packers should feel good about
5 and 8: That's where Christian Watson and Matthew Golden rank in the NFL for receiving yards through three weeks, respectively.
The offense hasn't given us too many positives, but the Watson-Golden duo is undoubtedly one of them. Watson has caught 17 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns, with Golden close behind on 15 catches, 253 yards, and one touchdown.
41: Per ESPN, Lukas Van Ness has a pass-rush win rate of 41 percent, which leads all edge rushers in the NFL. He's well ahead of the rest, with Brian Burns ranking second at 35 percent.
Van Ness has been the star player for Jonathan Gannon's defense in the opening three games. He has already surpassed last season's sack total and is on track for a career year, especially once Micah Parsons returns.
The numbers Packers shouldn't feel good about
3.0: That's how many yards the Packers are averaging per rushing attempt, which is comfortably the worst in the NFL. MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Kaleb Johnson are struggling to get anything going behind this offensive line.
The Packers miss Josh Jacobs, but it's fair to wonder how much success he'd enjoy, considering how poor the run blocking has been.
16: Per ESPN, the Packers have a pass-block win rate of just 16 percent, ranking dead last in the NFL. It's not even close, either. The Arizona Cardinals rank 31st with a pass-block win rate of 32 percent. The Buffalo Bills lead the league at 62 percent.
Here's the reality: 16 percent is pathetic. No wonder the Packers have signed three guards since their last game.
Packers stories from around the web
Here's What a Scout Saw When Watching Packers-Falcons (With Reason for Optimism) - Packers On SI
This is a fantastic read from Bill Huber. He spoke with a scout for an opponent on the Packers' schedule later in the season. They discussed what's wrong with the team, focusing on the offensive line and struggling run game.
Kevin Zeitler gives Packers crucial O-line boost after disaster start - Packers Wire
Mark Oldacres breaks down how Kevin Zeitler can help the Packers' offensive line, and in summary: Zeitler should be a significant upgrade on Jacob Monk. Another fantastic article.
6 reasons Packers fans shouldn't give up hope despite ugly 1-2 start - Lombardi Ave
There's (understandably) a ton of negativity about the Packers right now, so we decided to change it up a little and focus on the reasons for optimism. And there are several.
This day in Packers history
September 30, 2012: Packers win a 28-27 thriller against the Saints
The Packers and Saints put on a show at Lambeau Field in Week 4 of the 2012 season. The teams shared 895 yards of total offense, with Green Bay holding on for a one-point lead. Aaron Rodgers threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns with one interception, while Drew Brees finished with 446 yards and three touchdowns.
New Orleans thought it had retaken the lead after Garrett Hartley converted a 43-yard field goal with a little under three minutes remaining. However, a holding penalty wiped the points off the board, and despite the Packers immediately giving five yards back with a penalty of their own, Hartley missed the retake from 48 yards. James Jones sealed the win with a stunning catch to send the Packers to 2-2. The Saints fell to 0-4.
Hopefully, it's a good sign as the 1-2 Packers take on another winless NFC South team this week.
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