The Green Bay Packers finally have a new veteran presence available on the offensive line as they prepare for Sunday’s home matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Kevin Zeitler is active and will make his Packers debut at right guard, according to a pregame report from Packers writer Zach Jacobson.
The addition arrives with some urgency for a unit that has searched for answers amid early-season struggles.
Green Bay signed the 15th-year veteran on September 30, yet Zeitler needed additional time before he was ready to suit up. He was inactive for last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which allowed him to continue working through a quadriceps injury and learning the offense.
By Wednesday, he had taken first-team snaps at right guard, and by Friday he said he felt much better than the previous week. Even so, he acknowledged there was still a lot to process after joining a team already into the season.
That experience remains one of his clearest assets. Zeitler entered the year with 214 regular-season appearances and 213 starts, plus seven more starts in the postseason. He also earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2023.
A native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and a former University of Wisconsin standout, he now gets his first opportunity to play for his home-state NFL team against a division rival.
His availability is especially timely because several other offensive linemen are inactive.
The Packers’ official list includes Aaron Banks, Jacob Monk and Donovan Jennings. Zeitler is expected to line up at right guard alongside Laken Tomlinson at left guard, giving the interior a more experienced pairing as Green Bay tries to build on last week’s win at Tampa Bay.
The need for help was clear when the team added him.
Through the first three games, the Packers managed only 146 rushing yards, an average of 48.7 yards per contest. Team editor Mike Spofford noted in a midweek chat that pass protection showed improvement against the Buccaneers, though consistent rushing room remained difficult to find.
Two longer runs helped the ground game, yet overall efficiency stayed limited.
Blocking is only one piece of the larger picture. Spofford also identified penalties, fumbles and dropped passes as ongoing issues that have held the offense back.
A more stable line and a more reliable run game would give quarterback Jordan Love a stronger foundation, but one veteran addition cannot solve every problem by himself.
Sunday’s game will offer the first real look at whether Zeitler’s presence helps the group settle down between the whistles.
Be the first to comment