For eight years, before the dramatic knee injury that all but ended his career, the Packers did not need to worry much about the left tackle spot–it was the domain of David Bakhtiari, who was consistently one of the best in the NFL at one of the league’s most important positions.
Since Bakhtiari was forced to exit, stage left, because of injuries, the Packers have found that their traditional strength on the offensive front has waned. Rasheed Walker, the team’s seventh-round pick in 2022, has been the starter for the past two seasons, but he has not exactly been a stalwart at the position.
Walker was rated the 44th best tackle out of 140 by Pro Football Focus’s grading system in 2024, and showed a proclivity for penalties–he was charged with nine, according to PFF, which is 120th in the league. He also allowed 35 pressures, which was 118th among tackles last season.
Packers’ Rasheed Walker Facing Competition
In sum, Walker is serviceable, but not much beyond that. This would be his third year as a starter, so the presumption is that he could make a significant leap forward in 2025. But he might not get the chance to get there, especially as a groin injury has hampered him in camp and kept him out of preseason games.
And there’s a competition at left tackle this summer, with Packers first-round pick in 2024 Jordan Morgan making a bid for the spot. Morgan has filled in at both guard positions throughout training camp, too, because of injuries, but he is laying claim to the Packers’ keystone offensive line spot.
Jordan Morgan Still Fighting for Job
Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich has been impressed by what he has seen from Morgan this far.
“I’ve liked it. He’s done a really good job and that was the big thing to see how he goes out there and plays,” Stenavich said. “He played against a really good D-end (Laiatu Latu) yesterday and did a good job. It was encouraging to see him out there and it was good to see.”
Stenavich raised some eyebrows late last month when he said it is not likely that the Packers will have a settled offensive line by Week 1, and that the competition for snaps will continue into the regular season. “We might have six or seven guys playing in a game consistently,” he said at the time.
Through two preseason games, he said, that has not changed.
Said Stenavich: “We still have competition open right now and I’m okay with that until someone grabs the job.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Packers Coach: Key 2024 Starter Still Facing Demotion appeared first on Heavy Sports.