Packers coach Matt LaFleur vague on Aaron Banks, Zach Bako-Bewele status

The Green Bay Packers were unable to practice fully with their starting offensive line over the offseason due to Aaron Banks and Zach Bako-Bewele both recovering from knee injuries. As they prepare for their season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 13, head coach Matt LaFleur said he is uncertain about the game status of the veteran offensive linemen.

The team has had to realign some positions during camp. Anthony Belton has taken up Bako-Bewele's right tackle role, Jacob Monk has taken over Bako-Bewele's right guard spot, and rookie Jager Burton has been spending a lot of time at left guard. LaFleur emphasized that while it's difficult to maintain continuity without the full lineup, teams face similar challenges.

In a Sept. 7 news conference, LaFleur discussed his preparations for the first game, mentioning that a significant portion of the game plan was already set and the team had worked on it but also benefited from familiarity with their NFC North opponents from offseason work. He acknowledged that the early part of the season is hard for any team.

The Packers also announced their 2026 team captains: quarterback Jordan Love, linebacker Zaire Franklin, tight end Tucker Kraft, linebacker Isaiah McDuffie, and safety Xavier McKinney. LaFleur explained that the team decided to keep season-long captains similar to what they did in 2022. Last year's captains included Jordan Love, Tucker Kraft, Xavier McKinney, Isaiah McDuffie, Josh Jacobs, Rashan Gary, and Quay Walker.

The Packers also added two players to their practice squad, including Lenny Krieg, a first-year kicker from Germany, and Scott Daly, a sixth-year long snapper who previously played for the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.