Packers' Elgton Jenkins dealing
with back issue while adapting to position switch
[July 24, 2025]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Now that Green Bay has signed right tackle
Zach Tom to a lucrative contract extension, the focus on the
Packers' offensive line shifts to veteran guard-turned-center Elgton
Jenkins.
Jenkins was present for the Packers’ first training camp workout
Wednesday but didn’t participate in drills as he recovers from what
general manager Brian Gutekunst described as a back issue that has
the 29-year-old on the non-football injury list. Jenkins also was
present but didn’t practice at the Packers’ mandatory minicamp last
month after skipping the Packers’ organized team activities.
The Packers plan to move Jenkins from left guard to center as he
enters the third season of the four-year, $68 million extension he
signed in December 2022. ESPN reported that Jenkins skipped OTAs
because of concerns about how his position switch might impact his
future earnings.
“Elgton hasn’t missed anything mandatory for us,” Gutekunst said.
“He’s here and he’s working through a back thing. Contractually,
listen, there’s all kind of guys on our team and throughout the
National Football League that would like different circumstances
with that, so that’s normal. It’s just a part of the National
Football League, but Elgton’s always done right by us. We’ve always
done right by him.”
Gutekunst was asked directly if he expects Jenkins to start
practicing once he’s recovered from his back problem.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Gutekunst replied.
The Packers want Jenkins to fill the vacancy at center that was
created when Josh Myers, who started 56 games over the past four
seasons, signed with the New York Jets. The Packers signed former
San Francisco 49ers lineman Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million
contract and plan to start him at left guard, where Jenkins had made
67 starts and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2020 and 2022.
Green Bay’s offensive line also figures to include either incumbent
starter Rasheed Walker or 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan at
left tackle, Sean Rhyan at right guard and Tom at right tackle. Tom
signed a four-year, $88 million contract extension earlier this
week.
“Obviously, it feels good to know that the team believes in me and
knows what I can do in the future,” Tom said. “It’s also a testament
to everybody that’s been there for me in the past, my coaches,
family, teammates, friends. Just everybody. Yeah, I’m excited for
sure.”
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Green Bay Packers' head coach Matt LaFleur rides a bike to practice
at the team’s NFL football training camp Wednesday, July 23, 2025,
in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
The Packers believe Jenkins’ versatility should
make him an ideal fit at center. He has started games at every
offensive line position other than right guard in the NFL, including
four at center. He primarily played center during his college career
at Mississippi State.
But the Packers acknowledge they’d like to have him
working out at center and snapping the ball to Jordan Love as much
as possible over the next couple of months so that they’ve
established some cohesiveness by the start of the season.
“Once he gets back from injury, it’ll be great to have him back out
there because it’s one of those things you want to be feeling as
comfortable as possible and get as many banked reps in with our
relationship and make sure there’s no issues with snaps, no balls on
the ground, things like that,” Love said. “So (it will) definitely
be nice to get him back out there.”
NOTES: Former Denver Broncos head coach and New York Jets offensive
coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was at Packers camp Wednesday to
consult with Green Bay’s defense, playing the same advisory role
that former Jets coach Robert Saleh had in helping out Green Bay’s
offense last year. Hackett was the Packers’ offensive coordinator
from 2019-21. … Gutekunst said wide receiver Bo Melton will
primarily work at cornerback during training camp, continuing a
process that began in minicamp. That transition includes a change in
uniform number, from No. 80 to No. 16. … Gutekunst said linebacker
Quay Walker is “probably a week or so away” from practicing after
undergoing a “cleanup” on his ankle in the offseason. … The opening
day of training camp also marked the unveiling of the Packers’ new
locker room. “It’s amazing,” running back Josh Jacobs said. “It’s a
lot different, man. It just makes coming to work, even on them
harder days, it makes it feel not as hard. You’re coming into
something where you feel comfortable.”
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