The Green Bay Packers offensive line just took a gut punch you wouldn’t believe, especially after their unlikely win over the New York Jets on Sunday. All eight of their game-day active linemen saw action, which should tell you something, but the real kicker is that three of them, Zach Bako-Bewele, Aaron Banks, and Donovan Jennings, all left the game injured. Head coach Matt LaFleur dropped the bomb that Bako-Bewele, already limited coming in from patellar tendon surgery recovery, is definitely going to miss games. He even left the field in an air cast, which is never good news.
A Hospital Ward Up Front
This is a full-blown crisis in Green Bay’s trenches. While we’re still waiting on the full rundown for Banks’ toe injury, which apparently flared up after he was already battling knee tendinitis, and Jennings’ hand injury, Bako-Bewele’s situation is locked in. An air cast usually screams bone break or dislocation, so yeah, that’s rough. Think about it: your preferred O-line is Jordan Morgan at left tackle, Banks at left guard, Sean Rhyan at center, Jacob Monk at right guard, and Anthony Belton at right tackle. Now you’re missing at least one, possibly two or even three of those key guys right away. Banks and Jennings’ status is totally up in the air, and that’s a massive problem for Week 3.
Who’s Left to Plug the Gaps?
So, what’s the plan when your line gets decimated like this? If both Banks and Jennings are sidelined along with Bako-Bewele, then rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton is the next man up at left guard. He just got his first regular season snaps in Week 2, so talk about a trial by fire! It’s not ideal, but sometimes you gotta trust the guys you have on the roster. And believe it or not, the Packers actually have some internal options. Shoutout to Cheesehead_In_Paradise who pointed out Green Bay’s “extras” on the offensive line. Even though things got so wild tight end Tucker Kraft almost had to play tackle in the Jets game, the only two healthy scratches from Week 2 were offensive linemen: John Williams, who can play tackle, guard, or center, and tackle/guard Travis Glover. The team chose to keep these guys over others, so they must see something in them. They have numbers, but how much depth is too much to ask?
The biggest question mark in Green Bay right now is who will be protecting the quarterback on Thursday Night Football in Week 3. We’ll get a clearer picture when the Packers release their first injury report of the week on Monday. This isn’t just about shuffling players; it’s about maintaining any kind of cohesion up front against what’s sure to be a tough opponent. Fingers crossed they get some good news, or this season could get incredibly bumpy for their offense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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