The Green Bay Packers’ Offense Has A Lot Of Questions To Answer

Matt LaFleur stepped to the podium Wednesday, looked out at the media circus that awaited him, and said:

“You guys don’t seem as excited as I am.”

Give LaFleur credit for his enthusiasm. It’s something other head coaches might have lacked.

The Green Bay Packers kicked off training camp on a gorgeous, made-for-football morning with temperatures in the 70s and clouds keeping the sun hidden. Much like the first day of school, there was an electricity among the full house at Ray Nitschke Field — and the players themselves.

Then reality hit. And a team that had a bevy of questions on the offensive side of the football suddenly had a whole new batch of issues.

Green Bay’s top two offensive linemen, two of its better receivers, its starting tight end and kicker all watched practice from the sidelines. While some might be back soon, a handful of them will be hard pressed to be ready for the season-opener Sept. 11 in Minnesota.

“I was looking over … at the injury line,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “There’s eight or nine guys we’re expecting to play big roles for us. It’s a little rare I think going into training camp to have that kind of injury issues.”

It sure is. But this is the hand the 2022 Packers have been dealt.

The worst news was that Pro Bowl left tackle David Bakhtiari — who missed virtually all of the 2022 season with a torn ACL — had another procedure this offseason. Bakhtiari, who injured his knee 19 months ago, played just 27 snaps a year ago. In all, he’s had three procedures on the knee.

Bakhtiari is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and while all parties are cautiously optimistic, there’s no question his career is at a crossroads.

When asked if he’d play again, Bakhtiari said, “I’m not a fortune teller.”

Kicker Mason Crosby, the leading scorer in team history, revealed that he had a scope on his right knee two weeks ago. He joined Bakhtiari on the PUP list and is expected to miss a good chunk of training camp.

“I’ve kicked in every preseason game for my whole career,” Crosby said. “So I think having a couple games (off) isn’t going to hurt anything.”

Wideouts Christian Watson and Sammy Watkins — two players expected to help replace Pro Bowler Davante Adams — are also sidelined.

Watson, a rookie second round draft pick, underwent minor knee surgery after Green Bay’s offseason program in June, according to ESPN. Watson is also on the PUP list and could miss a substantial amount of camp.

“When we invest what we invested in Christian, we’re obviously looking out for the long term,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “We always do. He’s a young player who’s got a big career ahead of him, so we want to make sure we protect that. It’ll be how he responds through the rehab. As soon as he’s ready, we’ll get him out there.”

Veteran wideout Sammy Watkins, a free agent acquisition in March, was placed on the NFI (non-football injury) Tuesday. Gutekunst wouldn’t reveal injury details with Watkins, saying only, “Sammy’s a very short term thing.”

Pro Bowl offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins and tight end Robert Tonyan, who are both recovering from ACL injuries of their own, are both on the PUP list, as well.

Tonyan had 11 touchdown receptions in 2020, which tied Paul Coffman’s record for most TD catches in a season by a Green Bay tight end. Tonyan tore his ACL in Week 8 last season, and while his recovery has been a smooth one, he could certainly miss time early in the season.

“I’m dying to get out there,” Tonyan said. “I’m freaking out. It’s been forever.”

Last — but certainly not least — is Jenkins, one of the most versatile lineman in team history.

In 2020, Jenkins became the first Green Bay offensive lineman to start a game at guard, center and tackle in the same season since the 1970 merger. Jenkins took over for Bakhtiari at left tackle last season, and excelled before tearing his ACL in Week 8.

Gutekunst said, “Elgton is doing great. He’s certainly ahead of schedule.”

For the time being, though, Jenkins will be watching and waiting — like many of his pals on offense.

Add it up and this will undoubtedly be the most challenging training camp for the offense since Rodgers became the starter in 2008. Green Bay is young and inexperienced at several spots, and finding a way to remain an elite offense will be a tall order.

On Wednesday, for example, the No. 1 offensive line was (from left) Yosh Nijman, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Jake Hanson and Royce Newman. The top wide receivers were Allen Lazard, Juwann Winfree and Randall Cobb.

That won’t scare a lot of defensive coordinators.

“Offense still wins games,” Rodgers said. “And we’re going to have to be efficient offensively.”

Amazingly, Green Bay was exactly that on the first day of camp, thanks in large part to its four-time MVP quarterback.

Rodgers was sensational, highlighted by deep strikes to both Winfree and Lazard against Green Bay’s much ballyhooed defense. Rodgers knows, though, that might not be the norm this summer.

“I think the best part of the way the team looks now is, the offense is going to take some lumps — especially when the pads go on, I think,” Rodgers said. “Because our defense is pretty stout. And I think we need that.

“We need to go against a top-notch defense every single day and kind of get it handed to us. Today was definitely an offensive day, but we’re going to take our lumps, and I look forward to that because it’s going to build some character I think through the adversity we have to face as an offense after some of the pieces that we don’t have right now.”

Rodgers showed up for training camp earlier this week dressed like Nicolas Cage’s character Cameron Poe from the movie Con-Air. In that film, Cage plays a highly-decorated U.S. veteran who saves the day time after time during a plane heist.

In many ways, Rodgers may have to do the same with an offense that was picked apart in free agency and is now hamstrung with injury.

“There’s a lot of question marks,” Rodgers admitted.

Rodgers — and Green Bay’s offense — have typically had all the right answers.

Finding the right solutions this year will likely determine whether the 2022 Packers boom or bust.