The Green Bay Packers gave Rasheed Walker his first opportunity to start at left tackle during Saturday night’s preseason showdown with the New England Patriots, and the 2022 seventh-round pick did nothing to suggest a move back down the depth chart is coming. In fact, Walker was nothing if not solid, and he must now be considered the top option to back up David Bakhtiari at left tackle come Week 1.
Walker played 43 snaps against the Patriots, including 23 as a pass-blocker, and didn’t allow a pressure, per Pro Football Focus. He was also the offensive line’s second-highest graded run-blocker overall. The Patriots started Matthew Judon and Deatrich Wise and mixed in Josh Uche at edge rusher, but Walker held his own.
Coach Matt LaFleur said Walker earned the opportunity to start, and the Packers were excited to see how the Penn State product would hold up against starting-caliber NFL defenders.
“Rasheed had a really good week of practice and we wanted to see him. I talked to coach Belichick throughout the course of the week and had a pretty good indication that they were going to play their ones, and we wanted to see how he would respond in that situation,” LaFleur said.
How did Walker earn the opportunity? He played well during joint practices and was also excellent in the preseason opener vs. the Bengals. Over 52 pass-blocking snaps this preseason, Walker has allowed just one pressure.
Here’s Larry McCarren’s break down of Walker in Cincinnati:
"That's not just playing big, that is playing HUGE."
Larry McCarren breaks down some key blocks from @Cin5oTre3
Rock Report 🎥 pic.twitter.com/exGev3YJIP
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 14, 2023
Walker jumped Yosh Nijman on the depth chart at the chart. Nijman, a starter at tackle each of the last two seasons, played right tackle and was on the field into the fourth quarter.
The position battle continues at training camp. The Packers will have a regular season-like practice schedule this week before hosting the Seattle Seahawks in the preseason finale on Saturday. Can Walker stack another successful performance and win the job as Bakhtiari’s backup, an important role given the All-Pro’s knee issues?
