The Green Bay Packers didn't have starting left guard Aaron Banks during a highly disappointing season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and coach Matt LaFleur isn't yet sure if Banks will be able to go on Sunday against the New York Jets.
Banks is dealing with lingering knee tendonitis that caused him to miss significant time during training camp. LaFleur said Banks would practice on Wednesday, but the ramping up process will take the full week to unfold.
"He'll be back out there at practice, and we're trying to get him ramped up, ready to go. But, again, that's a process that will take through the week," LaFleur said Wednesday.
Based on LaFleur's answer, it can be assumed Banks will be another game-time decision in Week 2.
Banks practiced
in a limited capacity during all three practices last week but wasn't able to go on Sunday. He missed the entire preseason and hasn't played in a game since the playoff loss in Chicago in January. In Minneapolis, Donovan Jennings started in place of Banks at left guard for an offensive line that was overwhelmed by Brian Flores and the Vikings blitz. By PFF grade, Jennings was the worst of the Packers offensive linemen in Week 1.
Rebounding up front on offense will be the priority entering Week 2.
After allowing 18 hits on quarterback Jordan Love in the opener, the Packers offensive line -- with or without Banks -- will start preparing for a Jets front that added talent this offseason, including top pick David Bailey, former Packer JJ Enagbare and former Titan D'Vondre Sweat. Will McDonald IV returns after producing back-to-back seasons with at least 40 pressures.
"They've got good edge rushers and they are big inside," LaFleur said. "McDonald and Bailey are very talented, JJ had a sack against Tennessee. They've definitely upgraded the talent on that defense."
The Jets produced three sacks of Titans quarterback Cam Ward and held Tennessee to under 200 total yards. Enagbare had a team-high five pressures, per PFF, while McDonald was one of the top edge rushers in terms of pass-rush win rate (40%) at ESPN in Week 1. Ward was under pressure on 16 of his 39 dropbacks, or 41.0 percent, per PFF.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Will Packers have starting LG Aaron Banks available in Week 2?
