Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com
Training camp is underway in Green Bay, and with it comes our first real look at the injury situation heading into the season. As expected, Christian Watson (ACL) and Quay Walker (ankle) landed on the PUP list. But in a more puzzling development, Pro Bowl offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins has been placed on the active/non-football injury list.
Here’s the strange part – nobody knows what’s wrong with him.
Head coach Matt LaFleur hasn’t shared any details about Jenkins’ condition. While the team confirmed he’s dealing with some type of injury, the specifics remain under wraps. This silence raises questions, especially after Jenkins missed virtually all offseason activities. He did show up for mandatory minicamp in June – but only to avoid fines – and didn’t participate in any workouts.
The timing couldn’t be worse.
Jenkins has been locked in a contract standoff with the team while simultaneously preparing for a position change. After Green Bay handed guard Aaron Banks a hefty four-year, $77 million deal in free agency, Jenkins is expected to move to center – a switch he’s publicly embraced. His contract concerns stem from the final two years of his extension containing zero guaranteed money. He’s pushing for financial security, particularly with the position change on the horizon.
All this makes the mysterious injury designation even more eyebrow-raising.
Is This a Real Injury or Contract Theater?
Let’s be clear: the NFL would come down hard if the Packers were using the NFI list to sidestep a potential holdout situation. The penalties would be severe. But something doesn’t quite add up here.
Why the secrecy around Jenkins’ injury? Neither the player nor the organization seems willing to share what’s happened, leaving no clear timeline for his return. For a veteran like Jenkins – a second-round pick in 2019 who’s spent his entire career in Green Bay – missing training camp is problematic.
This isn’t just about getting back into football shape.
Jenkins’ transition from guard to center requires repetitions and practice time. As Jordan Love enters his second season as the starter, building chemistry with his center becomes crucial to the offense’s success. Every missed practice widens the learning curve.
Meanwhile, the contract issue remains unresolved. Jenkins skipped voluntary workouts for a reason – he believes he deserves financial security going forward. Even after he recovers from whatever is keeping him sidelined, the possibility of a holdout still looms over the team.
Of course, this could all blow over quickly. Jenkins might come off the NFI list any day now, sign a restructured contract, and get back to work. But the combination of position change, contract dispute, and mysterious injury has Packers fans justifiably concerned as the season approaches.
