Can Packers Offensive Lineman Elgton Jenkins Regain His Pro Bowl Form in 2023?
By GilMartin
It’s been a trying two years for Green Bay Packers starting left guard Elgton Jenkins. The former second-round pick out of Mississippi State suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through the 2021 campaign that temporarily disrupted his career. But now, with the injury more than a year and a half behind him, Jenkins is determined to regain his status as an elite offensive guard.
The versatile Jenkins wasted little time in claiming a starting job during his rookie season in 2019. He nearly became first string out of training camp but quickly took over as the starter when Lane Taylor was injured in Week 2 and lost for the season.
Jenkins not only started the final 14 games but played exceptionally well and did not allow a sack all season. He earned All-Rookie Team honors and established himself as an important part of the Green Bay offensive line in the process.
In his second season in the league, Jenkins earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career. He played left guard and showed himself to be a very strong pass blocker and a good run blocker according to PFF.
The Packers front office and coaching staff loved Jenkins’ versatility. He can play all five positions along the offensive line and play them well. In college, he started games at four positions for Mississippi State with right guard being the only position he did not get a start at.
Over the course of 2020, he played three different positions for the Packers, starting games at left guard, center, and right tackle.
In 2021, when David Bakhtiari was unavailable due to a knee injury he suffered before the 2020 season finale, Jenkins moved to left tackle to protect Aaron Rodgers’ blind side. He played eight games at left tackle and allowed only two sacks on 306 snaps in pass protection.
Jenkins graded out even higher at left tackle than he did the previous season at left guard according to PFF before he was lost for the season in the Packers Week 11 loss to the Vikings with a knee injury.
Last season, Jenkins was inactive for Week 1 as he continued to rehab from his injury. When he returned, he lined up at right tackle initially but struggled to maintain the edge, especially against speedy rushers.
Although he only allowed three sacks all season according to PFF, Jenkins wasn’t playing at the same high level at right tackle as he was before his injury. Matt LaFleur and the coaching staff moved him back to left guard where he was able to team with Bakhtiari to give the Packers a pair of Pro Bowl players on the left side of the offensive line.
By the end of the season, Jenkins was playing solid football again and he was named a Pro Bowl alternate. He eventually participated in the Pro Bowl festivities as an injury replacement.
While Jenkins played well by the end of the season, he didn’t quite return fully to the level he had displayed in 2020 at guard or even in 2021 at tackle before he was injured.
The Packers were confident Jenkins would be fine and they signed him to a four-year contract extension worth $68 million late last year.
Now, with his injury further in the past, Jenkins is optimistic that he can fully return to form.
“I feel way better,” Jenkins said before the Packers annual Tailgate Tour. “Just strength, stability, just being like explosive, just explosiveness, trying to like just push off my leg. I feel way better than I did coming into last season.”
He’s also excited that he can concentrate on playing one position this year, that being left guard.
“It's going to be fun, being able to have a whole season, a whole camp just working at one position and perfecting my craft,” Jenkins told reporters at OTAs this spring. “I'm expecting big things from myself, and I know my coach and everyone else is. So, it's just up from here.”
Jenkins holds himself to a very high standard and he’s expecting to rejoin the ranks of elite offensive linemen in 2023. If he can, the Packers offensive will surely benefit.
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Comments (39)
Coldworld
July 06, 2023 at 12:38 pm
I thought he was close to it at LG by the last quarter of the season.
dobber
July 06, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Agreed.
He answered his own question...
"By the end of the season, Jenkins was playing solid football again and he was named a Pro Bowl alternate. "
Handsback
July 06, 2023 at 12:46 pm
I think that the left side of the line including the center, will be very strong. I don't expect the right side to be as good. It will be this group that makes the Packer's offense and MLF's scheme go or no-go.
Just MHO
jannesbjornson
July 06, 2023 at 07:35 pm
That issue is on Gutedkunst, not La Fleur. OT was not a priority the past couple of drafts where talent was abundant. Best hope Love doesn't go down for the count.
packer132
July 06, 2023 at 08:37 pm
Another "fan" who doesn't know what he is talking about. Packers drafted 3 O linemen in 2022; 3 drafted in 2021; 3 drafted in 2020; 2 drafted in 2019. Of this group: Jenkins, Runyan, Myers, Newman, Rhyan, Tom, and Walker. I would say that's a pretty good group. Drafts take a couple of years to pan out, so we will see.
jannesbjornson
July 06, 2023 at 10:17 pm
Been attending Games since 1960 @ Lambeau Field. Bring it on...
LLCHESTY
July 06, 2023 at 08:56 pm
The center position could be strong if they let Tom give Myers a run for his money and let the best man win.
jannesbjornson
July 06, 2023 at 10:22 pm
Maybe Tom wins the RT spot or takes Runyan's job? He would make the wide zone move faster to the right flank.
I will watch Rhyan to see if he is a fraud, or a Sitton clone. I liked his Film at UCLA, reminded me of Tauscher.
SicSemperTyrannis
July 08, 2023 at 09:46 am
Handsback, I'm not as confident in Myers at C. Last year, Jenkins was solid at LG in every play I could review, but those were highlight reels of successful plays. I wish we had somebody to at least challenge for C but from what I've read of preseason so far we don't have that.
It's possible the right side of the line improves to be a greater strength than C. A weak spot at C is a conundrum I wonder how many teams have succeeded with? I don't want to be too harsh on Myers by saying he's a weak spot, but last season I saw many plays where he was pushed around and not many where he dominated. Hopefully he improves and combined with an easier schedule he dominates more. If he just holds his own and both sides of our line dominate, I think that can work.
T7Steve
July 06, 2023 at 01:03 pm
Let's hope that Myers takes a good step this season and I think he can. Otherwise, is it unheard of for the guard to make the calls on the line? Jenkins see things. Myers' mistakes had Ds scheming even JV stunts that worked and hung the inside out to dry. Seemed like every game he and / or Runyan would be standing looking around or double teaming someone and letting people run free, Embarrassing!
fireball
July 06, 2023 at 01:35 pm
I did not realize Jenkins was not back to his old form most of last season after recovering from his knee injury the previous season. I have read that it usually takes two years to fully recover from that kind of knee injury. I'm assuming that Jenkins will be his ol' self this coming season. If not, hmm, what's going on then, ? Like he's maybe only a two year wonder? Or maybe the injury permanently damaged him beyond repair?
T7Steve
July 06, 2023 at 01:52 pm
I think he'll be all the way back. There're 64 mil reasons why.
Also, he might have been held back last season because of the new normal "vet rest". One day DB was off the next he was off. Never practiced as a unit the whole season. Just on walk-through days.
That might have held the whole line back. No Continuity. That's not even mentioning what the coaches put on the field at the start of the season (brain rest?).
Leatherhead
July 06, 2023 at 02:14 pm
Since we lined up Jenkins, Bakhtiari, and sometimes Lewis on the left side, why was converting 3rd and short such a persistent problem?
LLCHESTY
July 06, 2023 at 07:31 pm
Shotgun and a zone running scheme. Asking a 250 lb RB to run laterally before hitting the line isn't sensible on short yardage plays. Also short yardage percentages are generally down across the league. You get what you practice and most teams just don't practice half line drills more than 3 or 4 times during TCs. Short yardage is also an attitude thing and I'm not sure there's a hardline leader on the OL.
stockholder
July 06, 2023 at 02:15 pm
I don't believe he has.
Sure he stepped in at LT.
But when they tried to move him to Rt.
He was slow.
You don't REGAIN A thing as you age.
But the experience never leaves you.
Versatility is priority one in GB now.
And we need a Guard.
TT never over-paid them.
This might be Jenkins last contract here.
Johnblood27
July 06, 2023 at 04:55 pm
Jenkins didn't lose anything because of AGE.
He lost because of INJURY.
Many players come all the way back from INJURY.
Even AR did.
cdoemel
July 06, 2023 at 06:37 pm
He was coming off an injury and playing a new-ish position. Cripes sake! Read the article and get the facts before you write the guy off!! 👎
LLCHESTY
July 06, 2023 at 08:57 pm
Your fault for taking him seriously.
BradHTX
July 07, 2023 at 04:11 am
Agreed. Who is more the fool, the guy who consistently posts awful takes (in this case, c’mon, Elgton is only 27…) after every article, or those who waste their time reading them and replying?
CoachJV
July 06, 2023 at 02:19 pm
They wasted time with trying him at RT for how many ever games that was once he came back... They should have put him back at LG right away, where Nijman was playing lights out at LT while Bak was down.
TXCHEESE
July 06, 2023 at 03:28 pm
I think much of the 3rd and short failures when running had to do with 1) no motion and 2) due to Rodgers' injury, they were constantly handing off out of a shotgun formation.
As someone who has had major leg surgery, it took a full year and a half to feel strong and confident using that leg again, and I was simply doing squats and deadlifts, not pushing another huge body in the middle of bodies flying around.
LLCHESTY
July 06, 2023 at 08:09 pm
PFF did an analysis of short yardage plays and the use of motion a few years ago. The successful short yardage percentages didn't change much with motion except in goal to go situations. Motion helped those situations be around 10% more successful.
As far as the Packers go I'm just not sure they have the killer "we're getting this" mentality. A great example is what Trey Smith has done for the Chiefs line. He's a finisher and that rubs off. One reason why I wanted the Packers to draft a G with an attitude this year.
jannesbjornson
July 06, 2023 at 10:26 pm
I was screaming through that draft, Bag Trey Smith. All-SEC. He Dominated the D lines, then the Ailment and it scared some people off the mark. He had a strong senior year and should have gone no lower than a Two Pick.
BAMABADGER
July 06, 2023 at 05:49 pm
By season end playing LG, Jenkins was back in his comfort zone and was the dominant offensive lineman on the team. He is the most valuable O-lineman on this team. If Bak can stay healthy, the left side of the line is set. Hopefully, Center and the right side can gel and perform to help Jordan Love this season. GPG!
jannesbjornson
July 06, 2023 at 10:28 pm
Let the Right side be an open and Fair competition. Most of these guys should be fighting for a job, not handed one.
SicSemperTyrannis
July 08, 2023 at 09:54 am
BB, the plays I could review, Bakh dominated every single time and by significantly more than Jenkins, although he never lost his assignment either. I saw Myers get pushed around more than he dominated. And sketchiness on the right side. All this on successful plays on highlight reels.
Bure9620
July 06, 2023 at 06:05 pm
He can now. Please just leave him at guard. I never liked all the tackle talk. I realize he can play Tackle be Jenkins is an elite all pro level guard. Put your guys in position to succeed.
cdoemel
July 06, 2023 at 06:43 pm
Yes! EJ’s natural position is LG. It’s exactly why the defense underperformed last year. Barry didn’t use his players to their ability. Scheme to your players strengths! Don’t force your athletes to fit your scheme!!
LLCHESTY
July 06, 2023 at 08:59 pm
Except he graded out as the 8th highest LT before his injury. That's what you call getting it done. If Bakhtiari leaves after this year I wouldn't mind an open competition for the LT spot and that's including Jenkins.
jannesbjornson
July 06, 2023 at 10:34 pm
He should be extended, if healthy and use a One pick in the 2024 draft to bookend the line. Love is a pocket passer. Time to bring Pro Bowl talent back across the entire line.
Leatherhead
July 06, 2023 at 06:49 pm
Here's the thinking on the tackle talk:
Left tackle is your most important position. A good LT makes your running game better and makes your QB better. After LT, it's Center, because they handle the ball on every play and call out blocking adjustments. A good Center makes both guards better, which makes the pocket better, which makes your QB better. Then RT, the the guards. The RG is usually the weakest link, even in a good line.
If Jenkins is your best offensive lineman, why play him at the 4th most important position, LG? In general, I'd agree with this, but I'm comfortable with him between Bakhtiari and Myers this year. That's a good group on that side of the line.
He might line up somewhere else next year. He's versatile and he's good. But for 2023, I think it's a good idea to just put him at LG and leave him alone if you can.
LLCHESTY
July 06, 2023 at 07:35 pm
Zack Martin and Trey Smith would like a word.
Bure9620
July 06, 2023 at 07:40 pm
He would then be playing another position as a fill in next year. A jack of all trades, master of none. The easy argument is why have him be good when he can be great? I understand versatility is a great thing and Gute likes it. Left Tackle is important. Jenkins is a solid Tackle, not a great one. At guard, Jenkins is one of the best in the game. A truly elite player you can rely on running behind on 3rd or 4th and short, picking up interior blitzes on 3rd down. Let him be elite. LG, he is elite.
jannesbjornson
July 06, 2023 at 10:40 pm
You only need versatility when there are Injuries. Left Guard is his spot just like Fuzzy and Gillingham. He has to follow in their footsteps.
dobber
July 07, 2023 at 07:30 am
"The easy argument is why have him be good when he can be great? "
Sometimes you have awful somewhere on the line that's costing you and a backup on the IOL who can be good enough. On game days, you can't carry a dedicated backup at each OL slot on the active roster. That's the value in his versatility. The idea is to win football games, not to add personal accolades to players. If you can do both? Great. But win football games first.
Leatherhead
July 07, 2023 at 09:07 am
Correct, dobber. It's about putting a team out there than can win football games. Maybe LG is his best spot, maybe it's center, maybe it's LT. You need 5 good, healthy linemen to start the game and he's certainly one of ours.
SicSemperTyrannis
July 08, 2023 at 10:00 am
Bure, failure to adjust in game last season was largely personnel choices on the O line from what I can see. I never want to see HC behind on things like that, it should have been done week 1 at halftime at the latest.
Could add that we knew Amari Rogers wasn't a returner in 2021, but we didn't know Nixon was so great. Releasing Amari and Watkins rather than getting some value out of them before trade deadline is the sort of mistake that can't be repeated, but coming away with 13 draft picks might erase that?
PatrickGB
July 06, 2023 at 09:06 pm
Yep.
OWarrior
July 08, 2023 at 11:32 am
First of all, I look to news articles for answers - not questions. Us fans know the questions. And, I find it really annoying when you give a question - and, then, don't give your answer. What's the point of the article?