Packers Notebook (at Commanders)

Line issues

For years, the Green Bay Packers’ high-flying offense was driven by Aaron Rodgers but powered by fine offensive lines.

This year, the line is a fine mess.

While left tackle David Bakhtiari has started four consecutive games and appears to be getting better with each week, the rest of the line has fallen on hard times. Those issues came to a head in Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets. Rodgers was sacked four times and took nine quarterback hits, and Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon combined to average just 3.2 yards per carry.

Right guard Royce Newman, in particular, had a bad day. He had a hand in two of the Jets’ sacks. At one point, coach Matt LaFleur had seen enough. For the two-minute drill before halftime, Newman was benched in favor of Jake Hanson. The Packers drove to a field goal but Hanson suffered a biceps injury during the drive. Newman was back for the second half.

Right tackle Elgton Jenkins had a bad day, too. Coming off a strong performance in London vs. the Giants, he was penalized three times and gave up a few pressures vs. the Jets. A Pro Bowler at left guard in 2020 and a standout at left tackle in 2021 before suffering a torn ACL, the combination of coming back from a major injury and a new position has been a challenge.

How will the Packers line up against the Washington Commanders on Sunday? Will they give Newman another shot at right guard and stick with Jenkins at right tackle? Will rookie Zach Tom replace Newman? Or will Jenkins move from right tackle to right guard and will Yosh Nijman get his shot at right tackle?

Throughout his tenure, LaFleur has preached the importance of getting the “best five” on the field. Nijman, with 10 quality starts at left tackle in 2021 and 2022, is one of the best five linemen. But is he part of the best combination?

Nijman hasn’t played right tackle since he was at Virginia Tech. With Bakhtiari missing all of 2021 and a big chunk of 2022 when you factor in the offseason practices, training camp and start of the regular season, the Packers had to lock Nijman in at left tackle.

Even with Bakhtiari’s return, Nijman played extensively against the Buccaneers in week three and the Giants in week five. He just hasn’t played a lot of right tackle; he hasn’t played it at all in a game.

Moreover, can the Packers realistically move Nijman to right tackle when he might be needed at a moment’s notice at left tackle? That seems about as ideal as running Newman back out there given his year two regression.

“I think everything’s up for discussion,” is all LaFleur would say on Monday.

Jenkins said Monday was about watching film and trying to fix all that was wrong. He’s not sure where he’ll line up when the team hits the practice field on Wednesday.

“I’m not opposed to any position at this point – especially with these past two weeks. Whatever helps the team and whatever helps us win, I’m with it,” he said.

There are issues beyond personnel. The Jets didn’t need to blitz to ruin Green Bay’s day. Their front four looped players from left to right and right to left. It’s exactly what the Packers expected; Rodgers said they do that 50% of the time in certain situations. But it’s as if the Packers had never seen it.

“That was extremely frustrating,” center Josh Myers said. “Those are situations we pride ourselves on, being really good at. And we weren’t. So, to come back in here and watch that was extremely frustrating.”

Those issues need to be resolved quickly. While the Commanders are only 2-4, their defensive line includes three first-round picks: Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen as the tackles and Montez Sweat as one of the ends. They’ve combined for 10½ sacks and 29 quarterback hits. As a unit, Washington is fourth in sack percentage.

Alexander walks the walk

Cornerback Jaire Alexander wanted more one-on-one opportunities. He got them against the Jets. Lining up against the their best receiver, rookie Garrett Wilson, for most of the game, Alexander delivered a superior performance. Wilson caught 1-of-5 passes for 8 yards and Alexander broke up three passes.

He had only one pass defensed, an interception against Chicago, through the first five games.

“He just went out there and competed every play, and he was challenging, contesting,” LaFleur said. “I was super-proud of his performance.”

Thanks, Dad

Jon Runyan Sr. started 192 games at right tackle during his NFL career. Following a stint in politics, he was named the NFL’s vice president of rules and policy administration in 2016. His job is to hand out punishment, whether it’s suspending Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans before a big Packers-Buccaneers game, or to fine players for rules violations.

One player who he fined was his son, Packers left guard Jon Runyan, for a leg-whipping infraction against the Giants in London. The cost? $5,215. The elder Runyan notified his son via text before sending him the official letter from the league.

“I was thinking about getting him a nice Christmas present this year,” Runyan said with a smile on Monday, “but, with all that money taken away from me, I’m probably not going to be able to. So, oh well, I’ll give it to him next year.”

The two have not discussed the fine.

“I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that,” he said.

According to ESPN, it might be the first time in NFL history that a father has fined his son.

“Yeah, I did keep the letter,” Runyan said. “I put it in my nightstand drawer. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it. Some people were telling me that I should frame it or something like that. I did keep it, though.”

Cobb avoids break

When a couple Jets defenders rolled across his legs during the third quarter on Sunday, receiver Randall Cobb thought he’d suffered a broken ankle. He was in tears when he was carted to the locker room.

Turns out, the injury isn’t so bad after all. Yes, he’ll miss some time — another blow to a struggling offense — but it’s not a season-ending injury. On Instagram, Cobb said he’d be back “soon.”

Sammy Watkins could take Cobb’s place on the roster. He is eligible to come off injured reserve this week after missing four games with a hamstring injury.