Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was hoping to not have to answer questions about the starting left tackle this season. However, after David Bakhtiari needed surgery the Packers have failed to find a consistent answer at the position. Both Rasheed Walker and Yosh Nijman have gotten reps but LaFleur remains noncommittal on who will start.
#Packers HC Matt LaFleur wouldn't commit to Rasheed Walker or Yosh Nijman starting at left tackle this Sunday.
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) November 16, 2023
Green Bay Packers Matt LaFleur On The Starting Left Tackle
LaFleur told reporters that they will take it day by day. Both players will get an opportunity to win the job but as of this moment, he would not name a starter for Sunday’s game against the Chargers. Walker is yet another seventh-round pick that has been seeing work for the team this season and it has been a mixed bag of results. At times he has looked like the steal of the draft and other times it is obvious why he fell in the draft. Nijman has been dealing with injuries and must be struggling in practice because he has struggled to see the field. It seems like it will be an open competition until someone wins it outright.
Draft Need
To me, this is the number one draft need for the Packers. There are a couple of left tackles at the top of the draft that could easily be day-one starters and solidify the blind side of Jordan Love. It doesn’t matter how talented your quarterback, running backs, or receivers are if you cannot block the opposing team. If the Packers can solve this specific problem, it should help in other areas as well. The team has a lot of high-end draft capital thanks to a lot of trades. I expect the left tackle to be a priority for Brian Gutekunst.
LaFleur will likely keep being asked about who will be starting at left tackle for the rest of the season. Hopefully, one of these players steps up and takes the job making things easier on Love and the offense.
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