Packers' Elgton Jenkins says he's
OK with his position switch and believes he can thrive at center
[July 29, 2025]
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Elgton Jenkins says he doesn’t expect
the Green Bay Packers to alter his contract before the season to
reflect his position switch while adding that he’s fine with the
move from guard to center.
“Right now, it’s just (about) being the best player I can be, being
the best teammate,” Jenkins said Monday. “Like I said, man, I know
what I’m going to do this season. I’m confident in my ability, very
confident in it. So just going out there playing ball, keep doing
what I’ve been doing and it’s going to take care of itself.”
Jenkins, a two-time Pro Bowl guard, is moving to center after the
Packers signed former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Aaron
Banks to fill his old spot at left guard. Jenkins will take over for
Josh Myers, who was Green Bay’s starting center for the past three
seasons before signing with the New York Jets in March.
The 29-year-old Jenkins practiced on a limited basis Monday for the
first time after dealing with a back issue the first few days of
training camp. Jenkins said he had hurt his back while lifting
weights earlier in the offseason.
The back issue also had prevented Jenkins from participating in
Green Bay’s mandatory minicamp last month, though he was present for
it.
Jenkins did skip the Packers’ organized team activities this
offseason, but he said Monday that was because of family concerns
rather than any issues over changing positions.
“I’m having changes in my family right now, so I wanted to spend
more time with them,” Jenkins said. “And it so happened that came
up, so it was just, like, it was better for me to spend time with my
family this offseason.”
Jenkins said he had expressed a willingness to move when general
manager Brian Gutekunst asked him about the possibility of switching
positions.
“When he asked me the first time, I was like, ‘Yeah, let me think on
it,’ “ Jenkins said. “I thought about it for a little while and he
called again and I was like ‘Yeah, I’ll do it.’ “
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Green Bay Packers guard Elgton Jenkins (74) walks off the field
after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday,
Nov. 24, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, file)
Jenkins acknowledged his representatives had spoken
with Packers officials about how the position switch could impact
his future earnings. Jennings has two years remaining on the
four-year, $68 million contract extension he signed in December
2022.
“They had a conversation, and obviously the conversation was going
on for a long period of time, but right now where we’re at is
focusing on the being the best player I can be,” Jenkins said. “Been
playing this game for 20-some years, seven years in the league, I’m
very confident in my ability and what I can do. The financial side,
I know that’s going to come. Right now, it’s just how can we build
chemistry within the O-line to get better and as an offense.”
The Packers and Jenkins have reason to believe he can thrive as a
center.
Jenkins was at center for 26 of his 34 career starts during his
college career at Mississippi State. While the 2019 second-round
pick has primarily played left guard in the NFL, he also has started
four games at center, eight at left tackle and six at right tackle.
His most recent start at center came in a 24-14 loss to the Detroit
Lions on Nov. 3 of last season when Myers was out with a wrist
injury.
“I feel like the sky’s the limit, honestly,” Jenkins said. “I can be
an All-Pro, Pro Bowl, same guy — probably even better, honestly.
We’re just going to see.”
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