Changes to Packers OL dependent on Jon Runyan’s status for Sunday

One of the several issues that the Green Bay Packers offense had against Minnesota in Week 1 was the play of their offensive line. However, if any changes are going to be made, that’s likely dependent on Jon Runyan’s status for this coming Sunday.

Of course, the Packers were without David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, which resulted in Jake Hanson starting at right guard and Royce Newman at right tackle. This is the same pairing that Green Bay used on the right side of the offensive line all summer, and unfortunately, both continued to struggle.

On Sunday against the Vikings, the Packers were credited with allowing 11 pressures the entire game, per PFF ($$), and seven of them belonged to either Hanson or Newman, with Hanson, in particular, being blown back on a few occasions by the Minnesota pass rusher.

As I wrote in my 3 Big Things article, both Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur have to be better than what they were on Sunday. With that said, those jobs become increasingly difficult when the battle at the line of scrimmage is being lost, and blocking assignments are being missed.

So, naturally, many are wondering if the Packers will make a switch this week, specifically letting Zach Tom start on the right side.

While the Packers’ go-to offensive line configuration during training camp consisted of the Hanson-Newman combo on the right side, we also saw Newman moved to right guard with Tom taking over at right tackle. Tom would perform quite well, not allowing any quarterback pressures during the preseason.

Matt LaFleur and Adam Stenavich clearly preferred Hanson and Newman, but this offensive line unit with Tom at right tackle seemed to be the more consistent grouping this preseason.

Unfortunately, just plugging Tom into the right tackle position isn’t that simple. In fact, it hinges on Runyan’s availability against Chicago.

Runyan left the Minnesota game with a concussion and will have to be cleared before he’s able to play again. With Runyan out, it was Tom who took over at left guard. Tom was far from great in that game, but he did hold up better than Hanson and Newman.

Presumably, if Runyan is out, Tom will be the left guard, leaving Newman and Hanson as the starters on the right side. Other options off the bench include Sean Rhyan, who had a rough training camp, and Rasheed Walker, who battled an injury during the summer but did perform quite well in that last preseason game.

Truthfully, I just don’t see the Packers willing to start either of those players, given the lack of reps, along with the ups and downs experienced this summer.

Perhaps the Packers would be willing to get creative by moving Tom to right tackle, Newman to right guard, and Hanson to left guard so that one side of the offensive line isn’t far more deficient than the other. Although, having said that, Hanson has little to no experience at left guard, and switching from one side of the line to the other is no easy task.

The best case scenario is that Elgton Jenkins is able to play and can take over at right tackle. However, as Ryan Wood of Packers News would report on Sunday, in addition to Bakhtiari likely being out for the Chicago game, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jenkins still sidelined either.

If I had to guess, I would venture to say that we see the same offensive line combination this Sunday Night. But if the Packers are looking to make a change, it likely all begins with the health of Jon Runyan.