The starting offensive line for the Green Bay Packers to open 2020 will look much different than the one that ended 2019.
The Packers are shuffling the starters for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings in response to an injury to Billy Turner, who started at right guard for 16 games last season and was the favorite to start at right tackle in 2020. Elgton Jenkins, last year’s starter at left guard, is now expected to start at right tackle on Sunday, with Lucas Patrick likely to start in place of Jenkins at left guard.
Jenkins and Patrick both worked with the starters at their new respective positions during 11-on-11 warmups on Sunday.
The Packers ended the 2019 season with David Bakhtiari at left tackle, Jenkins at left guard, Corey Linsley at center, Turner at right guard and Bryan Bulaga at right tackle.
Bulaga left in free agency. The Packers signed Rick Wagner, a veteran with several seasons of experience at right tackle, but he won’t start on Sunday. Turner, who is dealing with a knee injury, is inactive for Week 1.
The starting offensive line for Sunday: Bakhtiari at left tackle, Patrick at left guard, Linsley at center, Lane Taylor at right guard and Jenkins at right tackle.
Patrick played in several games for the Packers last season as an injury replacement, including at center. Taylor, an experienced guard who started for three-straight seasons at left guard, is healthy after missing all but two games last season. He returned to Green Bay on a restructured deal and won the right guard job during training camp.
The Packers offensive line will be tested by a talented Vikings defensive front on Sunday, although Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter is on injured reserve to start the season.
The Packers have Wagner, rookie Jon Runyan and Yosh Nijman as backups along the offensive line for Sunday.
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