Possible Packers offensive line combinations against Minnesota

Understandably so, a lot of attention this offseason has been on the wide receiver position for the Green Bay Packers. However, it is going to be the offensive line that plays a larger role in determining how consistently effective this offense can be.

So as we turn our full attention to Week 1 in Minnesota, we are still left wondering what the Packers starting offensive line configuration will be–and, of course, a lot of that will depend on health.

In Aaron Rodgers’ most recent interview with reporters during the Packers’ locker room availability last week, Rodgers mentioned that if David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins are available, the only spot in question will be at right guard.

The Packers have a few options when it comes to filling that role. Royce Newman was the team’s starting right guard in 2021 as a rookie and did progress as the season went along. However, even by the end of the year, he still struggled against stunts and in the run game.

This summer, Newman has either been the starting right tackle for the Packers or moved to right guard when Zach Tom was given an opportunity to play with the starters at tackle.

Rodgers would also mention that if Bakhtiari and Jenkins can’t go, then we can expect to see the same starting combination we’ve seen all summer, with Newman at right tackle, followed by Jake Hanson, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, and Yosh Nijman.

One could make an argument that this group was more effective with Tom at right tackle and Newman at guard, which we did see in the preseason, but far less frequently than the configuration just described.

These are the two possible options that Rodgers would describe, but of course, there are others. If Bakhtiari can play but Jenkins can’t, does Yosh Nijman move to right tackle, where he rarely practiced all summer, or does Newman remain in that spot?

What if Jenkins can play but Bakhtiari can’t? Then my guess is that Nijman stays at left tackle, Jenkins takes over at right tackle, and we are left with the same question already mentioned, which is, who starts at right guard?

As of Monday, Bakhtiari was participating in team drills for the first time all summer. Rob Demovsky of ESPN would also report that Bakhtiari is on track to start in Minnesota–although Bakhtiari would then temper those expectations on Twitter.

As of now, it remains to be seen whether he will play or not, but even for a veteran and former All-Pro, getting ready for a live game in less than a week after about 18 months of recovery from an injury is no easy task.

When it comes to Jenkins, he was still doing individual drills on Monday, which makes his outlook for Sunday’s game bleaker.

As I mentioned at the beginning of all of this, the offensive line is going to have to be the catalyst behind the offense’s potential success this season.

This group dealt with a number of injuries in 2021, and not shockingly, it showed on the field. The Packers’ run game wasn’t as effective as it was in 2020, and Rodgers was pressured more frequently, even with getting the ball out quicker on average.

Green Bay will be up against a Minnesota defensive front this week that includes Dalvin Tomlinson and Ross Blacklock inside, along with Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter at edge rusher.

With some time, however, Rodgers will have the opportunity to attack what could end up being a sub-par Minnesota cornerback room, while a functional run game will prevent the Vikings’ defensive front from pinning their ears back regularly.