One of the difficulties of figuring out just where the Packers are after playing four weeks and getting through their very early bye week is that we have only seen the offensive line play together in spurts. Stalwart tackle Zach Tom has been struggling with an oblique injury in Week 1 that caused him to miss Week 2. Then when he came back in Week 3 vs. the Browns, he lasted one snap before he had to duck out again.
And Aaron Banks is the other major concern for the Packers. He suffered a groin injury after Week 1, also missed Week 2, came back for Week 3 but was re-injured and missed Week 4.
Throw in a quad injury to left tackle Rasheed Walker and an ankle injury for his backup, Anthony Belton, and the Packers line has been battered. Coming out of the bye week there is at least some marginally good news for the team.
Zach Tom ‘Doing Well’ Coming Out of Bye
Speaking about Tom, arguably the Packers’ best offensive lineman, coach Matt LaFleur said, “He’s doing well right now. He’ll be limited.” And that’s the best the team can offer with the injury situation–limited, but hopeful.
Tom was, indeed, limited in practice on Wednesday, but he did participate according to the team’s report. Banks, too, did participate, though he was also limited.
Walker and his quad were limited, but backup Belton was not. He did not participate in Wednesday’s practice and, worse, when asked whether he was close to coming back, LaFleur simply said, “No.”
GettyPackers head coach Matt LaFleur.
Packers Will Face Bengals in Week 6
The 2-1-1 Packers will try to pull themselves together after a wild first quarter of the season in which they beat two conference heavyweights–the Lions and Commanders–but then stumbled against the Browns, giving Cleveland its only win of the year, and emerged with an unsatisfying tie against Dallas in Week 4.
The struggling Bengals, who traded for former Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (the guy who beat Green Bay in Week 3), are on the docket at Lambeau this week.
The offensive line will be key to that. The injuries have taken their toll. The Packers line was rated No. 8 by Pro Football Focus after Week 1, and fell to No. 9 after Week 2. It was a unit that appeared to be a strength of the team.
Packers Line Rated No. 18 After Week 5
But Weeks 3 and 4, marred by injuries, saw them plummet in the rankings. The Packers are down to No. 18 in the league, a below-average group. Veteran Elgton Jenkins, who declared that he “played like (expletive)” to open the year as he has moved from guard to center, was tabbed the team’s best lineman.
PFF wrote of the bunch: “Green Bay’s offensive line has surrendered 49 pressures — including seven sacks — on 135 pass plays this season. The unit’s 79.3 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating ranks only 31st in the league.”
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