3 Potential offensive line combos for Packers with Elgton Jenkins out
By Paul Bretl
With left guard Elgton Jenkins expected to miss multiple weeks with an MCL sprain, the Green Bay Packers have a few options when it comes to how they shuffle the offensive line in his absence.
The offensive line was the known strength of this Green Bay Packers offense coming into the season and even coming out of Week 1. However, just a few days later, there are now two question marks on the left side.
Jenkins left Sunday’s game with said MCL sprain, and as of now, it is unknown if he will be placed on IR, which would require him to miss a minimum of four games. Along with that, David Bakhtiari did not play against Atlanta. On Monday, Matt LaFleur said that some swelling developed, and that ultimately kept Bakhtiari out of the lineup.
Overall, the Packers’ offensive line unit, even with these injuries, has held up well in pass protection through two games. PFF has credited this unit with allowing only five pressures in two games.
With that said, where this group, and the offense in general, has struggled is in the run game. The Green Bay running backs are barely averaging over three yards per rush this season, putting the offense in predictable passing situations with their inability to move the ball on early downs and allowing the defense to get into favorable play calls. This aspect was a key contributor to the Packers’ fourth-quarter struggles against Atlanta.
If the Green Bay Packers offense is going to find steady success this season, they have become more consistent in the ground game.
We do not know how long Bakhtiari will be sidelined. For all we know, he could return this week. However, what we do know at this time is that the Packers will be without Jenkins for the time being. LaFleur said on Monday that the team would discuss their options and make the week “competitive” when it comes to determining who the best five are.
Here is a look at three of those potential offensive line combinations – in no particular order – that we could see from Green Bay in the coming weeks.