As jeers echoed through the Lambeau Field stands directed at the Green Bay Packers (1-2) during a crushing 35-14 “Thursday Night Football” loss to the formerly 0-2 Atlanta Falcons (1-2), general manager Brian Gutekunst recognized the urgent need for action. The proof was simply too overwhelming to disregard.
Following the most lopsided home defeat in Matt LaFleur’s eight-year tenure as head coach, the statistical breakdown was jarring, albeit for all the wrong reasons. For the first time since 2014, Green Bay has found itself behind by at least ten points in all of its opening three matchups. During Week 3, the team was dominated on the ground, surrendering 242 rushing yards while gaining only 17—representing the third-worst rushing differential for the historic franchise since 1980. With a meager 146 total rushing yards, Green Bay ranks dead last in the league through 9 weeks, trailing the second-worst team, the Denver Broncos (at 243 yards), by 97 yards. LaFleur appears to lack confidence in his ground game, opting for rushing plays on a mere 26.7% of offensive snaps. By comparison, the Carolina Panthers have the second-lowest frequency at 34.2%.
The aerial attack in Green Bay is likewise faltering, even though quarterback Jordan Love has ranked among the NFL’s most efficient signal-callers since stepping into the starting role in 2023. Though he has thrown multiple touchdown passes in every contest this year, Love is experiencing unusual accuracy issues in 2026, registering a 52.4% completion rate, which ranks second-to-last across the league. This struggle stems from relentless defensive pressure; he has been hurried 59 times (second-highest in the NFL, just behind Carolina’s Bryce Young at 62). Love’s off-target percentage under duress sits at a league-leading 28%, directly contributing to the Packers’ status as the worst third-down offense in football, converting a mere 27.8% of their attempts.
What explains this sudden decline, especially after the Packers boasted the NFL’s tenth-most prolific offense (averaging 24.2 points per match) during Love’s initial three-year run from 2023 to 2025? The front office terribly misjudged the depth and quality of their offensive line. Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, an elite talent at his spot, suffered a season-ending patellar tendon tear during a Week 2 road trip to the New York Jets. Left guard Aaron Banks has also battled recurring injuries. Meanwhile, the rest of the unit—excluding center Sean Rhyan—has looked inexperienced and outmatched. The 2026 campaign marks the first opportunity for 2024 top draft pick Jordan Morgan to play his college position of left tackle, while the remaining young players at left guard (undrafted sophomore veteran Donovan Jennings and 2026 fifth-rounder Jager Burton), right guard (2024 fifth-round selection Jacob Monk), and right tackle (2025 second-round choice Anthony Belton) currently lack the maturity to perform as capable NFL starters.
Reinforcements have landed
In response, Gutekunst has recruited three experienced offensive linemen. On Monday, the team acquired Laken Tomlinson, an 11-year veteran and former Pro Bowler with 162 career starts. Shortly after, they added former first-round selection Mekhi Becton, the 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft, who brings versatility with starts at both guard and tackle. The final major piece fell into place on Wednesday when Green Bay agreed to terms with Pro Bowl right guard Kevin Zeitler, according to reports from ESPN.
Both Tomlinson and Zeitler have earned Pro Bowl honors and offer a calming, veteran presence despite being in their mid-30s. Becton previously served as a starting guard during the Philadelphia Eagles’ championship run in 2024. Fortunately, integrating this trio into LaFleur’s system should be relatively seamless. Tomlinson spent five seasons under Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers (2017-2021) before working under Mike LaFleur (the head coach’s brother) in 2022 and former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett in 2023 while with the New York Jets. Becton was also on the Jets’ roster during that period. Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Zeitler, embarking on his 15th NFL season in 2026, possesses the experience to rapidly master any scheme.
How will the restructured Green Bay offensive front look following these transactions? Here are the two most probable starting configurations from left to right.
- Option 1: Morgan, Tomlinson, Rhyan, Zeitler, and Belton, featuring Becton as the primary reserve lineman
- Option 2: Morgan, Tomlinson, Rhyan, Zeitler, and Becton, leaving Belton in the swing tackle role
Regardless of which lineup takes the field, Love should enjoy significantly better protection to target pass-catchers Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, and tight end Tucker Kraft. Currently, Watson is fifth in NFL receiving yardage (284) and third in touchdowns (3). Golden, selected in the first round of the 2025 draft, is coming off a breakout performance in Week 3, securing 5 passes for 100 yards and a score. Before tearing his ACL midway through last year, Kraft appeared destined for All-Pro status, and his mobility continues to improve as he recovers from that severe injury. Inserting these experienced blockers should quickly resolve the passing game’s woes. On the ground, third-round running backs MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson, who are stepping up in place of the injured Josh Jacobs, should also find more running room behind a beefed-up front.
Action was non-negotiable for Green Bay, as their 2026 roster joined the 1989 Dallas Cowboys as the only teams since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to rank dead last in both completion rate and rushing yards per contest after three weeks. That infamous Dallas squad finished 1-15 during top pick Troy Aikman’s rookie season. In response, Gutekunst aggressively turned to the veteran free-agent market to patch the offensive front as quickly as possible. The pressure is now on LaFleur and Love to rescue the Packers’ campaign using this newly assembled, experienced group. Failure to do so will bring intense criticism upon the front office and coaching staff for overestimating the readiness of their young development players upfront.
