In Elgton Jenkins’ fourth game back following his return from an ACL injury, the Green Bay Packers starting right tackle put together what was easily his best performance of the season against the New York Giants.
Jenkins’ 2022 debut came in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, in a game that Matt LaFleur said the team wouldn’t have won without Jenkins back in the mix.
However, despite the high praise, Jenkins allowed a team-high three pressure that week, according to PFF. He would then allow three pressures against Tampa Bay and another three against New England – all team highs each week.
Against both speed and power, Jenkins was taking some lumps in pass protection. For what it’s worth, Jenkins ranked 60th out of 71 eligible offensive tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking grade during that three-game span.
Naturally, there was some rust to shake off, as this has been his first game action since his injury in Week 11 of last season.
There is also something to be said for playing right tackle, a position that Jenkins had only taken 32 snaps at prior to this season and on the side of the offensive line that he had rarely stepped on. The majority of Jenkins’ playing time with Green Bay prior to this season came at left guard or left tackle. As former Packer Josh Sitton once pointed out, switching sides of the offensive line is like “trying to wipe your ass with the opposite hand.”
But this past week, when facing New York, Jenkins had what offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich called his best game of the season, allowing no pressures against the blitz-heavy Giants front seven that ranks sixth in pressure rate in 2022–although the Packers’ quick passing game aided Jenkins and the rest of the offensive line.
“He played better,” said Stenavich on Thursday. “I think this was his best game just physically, running, setting, coming off the ball. He’s looked the best he has all year. I’m encouraged by that. I’m excited by that. Hopefully, every week he keeps improving on that.”
Even with Jenkins’ ups and downs in pass protection, the Packers have run the ball often to his side, where he has fared well as a run blocker. Out of 124 total rushing attempts between Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, 73 have gone to the right side, with both backs finding success.
Jones has posted 80 rushing yards on 12 attempts (6.6 yards per rush) when running at Jenkins and Dillon 76 yards on 18 attempts (4.2 yards per rush). Jenkins currently ranks sixth among all offensive tackles in run blocking grade.
There are still questions on whether the current starting offensive line configuration will be the same five at season’s end. Royce Newman has had some rocky performances at right guard, and any potential changes also hinge on Jenkins’ play along with Yosh Nijman’s ability to play right tackle. Similarly to Jenkins, Nijman has no NFL experience on the right side.
With that said, this combination of players appears to be the go-to option for the Packers at this time. While there is a lot of focus on the Green Bay passing game and their run-pass mix, at the end of the day, this offense is only going to go as far as the offensive line takes them.
