Matt LaFleur on impact of losing Elgton Jenkins for season

The Green Bay Packers have officially lost offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins for the rest of the season. On Monday, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that his multi-faceted offensive lineman would undergo season-ending knee surgery. Losing Jenkins is a significant loss to the Packers’ offensive line and LaFleur addressed what his absence would mean for the team going forward.

“It’s unfortunate,” LaFleur said. “Certainly, Elgton’s been a big part of this team and still is a big part of this team. But he just won’t be out there with us.”

Green Bay’s offensive line and its left tackle position specifically remain a question mark for the team. Although Elgton was a starting offensive lineman last season, it was not a left tackle. That honor belongs to All-Pro David Bakhtiari, who is still recovering from ACL surgery. And with no definitive time on Bakhtiari’s return, the Packers will have to turn to their third-string tackle yet again.

The Packers’ offense again will turn to Yosh Nijman to protect the blind side of Aaron Rodgers at left tackle, for now. Nijman played three games earlier this season, from week three to five, while Jenkins was out with an ankle injury.

The Packers are very high on Jenkins

Replacing a player of Bakhtiari is difficult, especially at one of the most important positions in football – left tackle. The former fourth-round NFL draft pick has started 118 games in his eight-season career. Bakhtiari is a three-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro in 2018 and 2020.

Despite losing Bakhtiari, the Packers were comfortable with their offensive line due to having Jenkins. Jenkins has played multiple positions on the offensive line, and Green Bay was comfortable with the former Mississippi State product playing left tackle entering the season.

“The Packers raved all summer about Elgton Jenkins,” NFL Network’s Albert Breer said before the season. “They honestly believe he might be the best lineman in football right now. And talking to other teams, he hardly looked out of place at left tackle. So the experiment in moving Jenkins out there now becomes real.”

The Packers lost to the Vikings on Sunday. Green Bay is now 8-3 on the season, leading the NFC North.