The Green Bay Packers will play their “starting” offensive on Friday against the San Fransico 49ers, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Wednesday.
“The offensive line is going to play,” said LaFleur. “Those five guys that you’ve seen line up for the most part with the first group, they’re gonna play.”
That combination LaFleur mentioned may be up for some debate but going by the unofficial depth chart released earlier in the week, Yosh Nijamn was listed as the starting left tackle, with Jon Runyan at left guard, Josh Myers center, Jake Hanson at right guard, and Royce Newman at right tackle.
Finding the most consistent five to this point in training camp hasn’t been easy, especially at offensive tackle. The team is astill without David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, but general manager Brian Gutekunst is hopeful to have both early in the regular season.
Bakhtiari has a chance to be ready for the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Still working his way back from a knee injury suffered in December of 2020, the team’s All-Pro left tackle appears to be moving well while working with the rehab group in practice. Meanwhile, Jenkins was reported to be “ahead of schedule” in his recovery from an ACL tear from Week 11 of last season but will probably need more than a month to work his way back into the lineup.
If neither is ready for the season opener, the Packers will have to make it work without their two best offensive linemen. Luckily, the preseason offers an ideal setting where they can find their best five in the interim.
Newman is seemingly a placeholder for the time being after starting 16 games at right guard as a rookie. The team has a lot of confidence in Nijman, who showed a lot of promise in eight starts at left tackle last season. He could conceivably play on the right when Bakhtiari returns. Rookie Zach Tom has also done some work at right tackle and even spent time with the starters briefly.
Green Bay is keeping the door open to signing a free agent if they are not confident at a certain spot. Aaron Rodgers said he hasn’t spoken to Gutekunst about bringing anyone but is watching to see if someone steps up.
“We need consistency out of those guys,” Rodgers said. Those guys are going to play, too. They’re all young guys, and they’re all gonna play in the preseason. We need to see them play well and have some really good moments, so we feel good going into Minnesota with that pass rush they’ve got.”
Rodgers won’t play on Friday but will keep a close eye on the protection of quarterback Jordan Love.
