With Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit Lions coming to town in four weeks, the Green Bay Packers have some serious thinking to do. They need to search for veteran help after a nightmarish start to the preseason.
The Packers invested heavily in the offensive line this offseason, handing guard Aaron Banks a surprisingly big contract before using draft picks on Anthony Belton and John Williams. If there's a positive, it's that the Packers' tackles had some impressive moments in the preseason loss to the New York Jets, but the interior line play is raising alarm bells.
Second-year Jacob Monk allowed one sack and had three holding penalties, while Sean Rhyan allowed a sack on Malik Willis in the end zone that led to a Jets defensive touchdown. In total, Green Bay allowed four sacks.
"If you're not concerned about it, then you're probably not pushing as hard as you should be," said head coach Matt LaFleur. "Anytime you just play with poor technique and poor fundamentals, and then you're making bad decisions, it's hard to play the game of football if you get called for a holding penalty it seemed like every other play."
Problems. Real problems. And the Packers need to find the answer quickly.
Packers need to add a veteran offensive lineman after disastrous preseason opener
It's time for the Packers to consider their free-agent and trade options. That's easier said than done, with teams across the league holding 90 players on their rosters. Roster cutdowns will inevitably lead to opportunities to strengthen.
Perhaps Green Bay can use a position like wide receiver, where it has strong depth, to swing a trade for another team's backup lineman.
Yes, it's the preseason, so mistakes and penalties can be expected, but the Packers' offensive line looked a million miles away from where it needs to be.
Again, there were positives. Jordan Morgan looked more comfortable at left tackle than he did a week ago at Family Night. Belton, the Packers' second-round pick in April, overcame two declined penalties to make a key block on Amar Johnson's 39-yard touchdown.
But the play at the interior spots left real concerns with the regular season only weeks away.
Monk, who many presumed would enter the season as the backup center, may have played his way out of the Packers' plans. Green Bay lacks interior line depth, and it's something LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst need to address as soon as possible.