The status of Green Bay Packers' right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele for the team's first regular season game remains mostly unknown. However, the team did give a somewhat positive update in its latest comments.
On Tuesday, position coaches for the Packers talked to the media ahead of the team's game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Just a day after head coach Matt LaFleur said that he would have to "see" if Bako-Bewele could suit up on Sunday, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich weighed in.
"I expect to see it on Sunday, yeah," Stenavich said when asked by The Athletic's Matt Schneidman if he expects to see Bako-Bewele play at an "elite" level this week. "We're still sort of going through that whole process, but I think if he's out there, he's going to be playing at a high level."
Bako-Bewele is still working his way back from a partially torn patellar tendon that ended his season last December.
Stenavich was then asked whether he knows what the Packers have with their offensive line ahead of the season opener.
"Well, no, as far as like who's gonna be starting and things like that. It's still a work in progress unfortunately with the injury situations to (Aaron) Banks and Zach," he said.
Packers' starting offensive line situation remains mostly a mystery
While much was made of the Packers' starting offensive line throughout the preseason, it seemed to resolve itself ahead of Week 1. However, with Bako-Bewele and Banks still nursing injuries, it's now anyone's guess as to who will suit up in the trenches for Green Bay in some key spots.
We do know that left tackle Jordan Morgan, center Sean Rhyan, and right guard Jacob Monk seem locked in to play, but that still leaves two key spots.
In the places of Bako-Bewele and Banks, the Packers will probably turn to Anthony Belton and Jager Burton, respectively. Burton has performed well in training camp and in the preseason, but a real NFL game is an entirely different thing. As for Belton, he's struggled throughout and would be a significant downgrade from Bako-Bewele if he has to play a majority of snaps, or even start, in the game.
As for Bako-Bewele himself, he still seems like he's gearing up to play. Toward the end of training camp, the right tackle was asked if he felt ready for Week 1.
He was hesitant to answer at first, but eventually said he "would be" by the time it came around. With just a few days left to get there, we'll have to wait until the first injury reports begin trickling in to see what Bako-Bewele's true status for Week 1 is.
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