After days of uncertainty surrounding the status of Green Bay Packers right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, it seems like the team finally has an answer as to whether or not he'll play.
Following the team's first meeting on the practice field ahead of their Week 1 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Bako-Bewele said he plans to play on Sunday. Better yet, he believes he'll be ready to play the entire game.
"I think the plan was always to be ready Week 1," said Bako-Bewele (via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). "I had given an answer a couple of weeks ago where it sounded like I was unsure. But I think it got blown out of proportion. I was referring more to getting in shape, getting back with team, and the rhythm of playing."
Both Bako-Bewele and Aaron Banks, who are the two questionable players on the offensive line ahead of Sunday, were limited at practice. Despite the designation, Bako-Bewele said he would "definitely" be playing on Sunday and does "expect to perform at an elite level," according to comments made to The Athletic's Matt Schneidman.
Zach Bako-Bewele's availability gives Packers a huge boost in Week 1 vs. Vikings
If Bako-Bewele's comments are to be believed, then that means the Packers will at least have four of their five starting offensive linemen ready for the game. The only question regarding the line remains Banks, who was slow to ramp up in training camp as he dealt with a tendonitis issue that kept him out of practice early. Should he be unable to go, it's likely rookie Jager Burton will be tapped to start in his place.
Bako-Bewele's plans to play should come as music to the Packers' ears, though. Arguably the best player on the line, Bako-Bewele has received All-Pro votes in each of the last two seasons and is one of the most elite tackles in the NFL. He's also coming off a summer in which he signed a massive four-year, $88 million contract extension with the team.
Unfortunately, he was only able to play in 12 of the team's 17 games last year, after partially tearing his patellar tendon in the loss to the Denver Broncos in December. To say the team missed him in his absence would be an understatement, as the running game and pass protection took some huge nosedives while he was gone. The Packers didn't win another game.
Now making his way back, though, Bako-Bewele seems ready to step right back into an elite role for the team. His first task will be to play through a full game on Sunday, which, regardless of his statements, is something all fans will be keeping a close eye on.
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