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Green Bay Packers rookie guard Elgton Jenkins didn’t allow a single sack or quarterback hit during the preseason. The second-round pick has extended that impressive streak well into the regular season.
Through his first eight games as a starter at left guard, Jenkins still hasn’t allowed a quarterback hit or sack. In fact, he’s the only Packers starting offensive lineman to not allow a sack this season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins has played 536 total snaps, including 349 as a pass blocker, and he’s allowed only 10 total pressures.
One play against the Carolina Panthers last Sunday stands out as a testament of his pass-blocking skills. It came in a high-leverage spot in the first quarter. Beat off the snap, Jenkins recovered and walled off the inside rusher, passed him on to left tackle David Bakhtiari as the two rushers attempted a combination stunt and then picked up the edge rusher swooping in, allowing Aaron Rodgers to buy time in the pocket and find Allen Lazard for a completion on third down.
It was the kind of high-difficulty play that catches the eye of an offensive line coach.
“He’s a really intelligent guy, very football smart,” Packers offensive line coach Adam Stenavich said, via the team’s official site. “He’s confident because he can go out there and he knows what to do, and he knows who to block so he can play fast. That’s the biggest thing for rookies is figuring out what to do, so when they do it they can do at a high level. He’s been able to do that almost from Day 1.”
As noted by Ross Uglem of Packer Report, Jenkins is the only guard in the NFL to play at least 500 snaps this season and not allow a sack or quarterback hit.
A center in college, Jenkins has quickly adapted to playing guard at the NFL level. He took over for injured starter Lane Taylor in Week 3, and the offensive line hasn’t missed a beat. In fact, from a pass protection standpoint, the group almost certainly improved.
The beauty in Jenkins’ play has been the consistency. He looked like he belonged right away. Inserted into the game as a spot player in Week 2, Jenkins handled his business against the terrific front of the Minnesota Vikings, and his comfort level – especially in the run game – has improved every game since.
The Packers had flashier options on the board at No. 44 overall in the second round, but credit GM Brian Gutekunst for sticking to his board and grabbing an immediate above-average starter at guard. If Jenkins continues to pass protect as well as he has during his rookie season, Pro Bowls (plural) are in his future.
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