GREEN BAY — A year ago, watching the bottom of a steep climb after his torn anterior cruciate ligament, Elgton Jenkins’ mind could wander.
The five-tool Green Bay Packers offensive lineman knew he would play again. Nothing held him back. He just didn’t know what it would be like. Jenkins was once on top of the NFL world, a Pro Bowler in his second season in the NFL, a guard starting at left tackle for eight games last year.
His future was limitless.
Then his left knee bent on the turf at US Bank Stadium in Minnesota. Over the weeks following reconstructive surgery, the uncertainty could be overwhelming.
“At this time last year,” Jenkins said, “I was in a dark place. I just finished three seasons playing well, playing well, and then getting hurt in your third season. So I could say I was in a dark place, but I just had to work. That’s what I thought to myself. I just have to work, work, work my way through this.
“I knew I was going to come back, but I didn’t know how good and how good I was going to be when I came back. So I knew I was going to get paid, but I didn’t know how much.
Jenkins got his answer Thursday night. After a month of negotiations, the Packers agreed to a four-year, $64 million extension with their former second-round pick, a source told PackersNews. The deal includes a $24 million signing bonus and $6 million in incentives, giving it a total value of $74 million.
Payday made a memorable Christmas and birthday weekend for Jenkins, who turns 27 on Monday.
“I said, ‘I can’t wait to see our gifts. You’ve got a nice little Christmas bonus,” LaFleur said with a smile. “It’s a great day for us, a great day for Elgton. Obviously, he’s earned it and he’s doing it the right way. It’s always fun as a coach to see guys being rewarded not just for their performance, but also for what they do. .in this locker room, and the leadership he brings. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s been just awesome since the day he stepped foot in this building, and he brings so much to our team.
“Just really, really, really excited, and it’s a nice little Christmas present for all of us.”
At $17 million a year, Jenkins’ salary is the second highest among NFL guards, behind Indianapolis All-Pro Quenton Nelson ($20 million a year). He also tied Denver’s Garett Bolles for the NFL’s eighth-highest-paid left tackle.
It’s fitting that Jenkins be compared in both groups of offensive linemen, as versatility has been his game’s biggest strength. Since the The Packers drafted Jenkins with the 44th overall pick in 2019he was something of a unicorn among linemen, the rare blocker who could line up anywhere along the offensive line.
A Mississippi State varsity center, Jenkins was a Pro Bowl left guard in his second season in the NFL. His left tackle work might be the most impressive. Jenkins filled in the left tackle as David Bakhtiari recovered from his ACL tear last season before his own ACL tear.
Jenkins said his versatility was part of the reason general manager Brian Gutekunst wanted to re-sign him. LaFleur predicted he would continue to move Jenkins where needed along the offensive line.
“That’s where we need him,” LaFleur said. “I think he can play anything. I really do. I think he’s shown his ability to play tackle, I think he’s a hell of a centre, obviously a guard. I think he can play anything.”
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LaFleur wouldn’t indicate which position is best for Jenkins, even after his big payday. It might not be a coincidence that Jenkins’ game improved after returning to left guard in Week 7.
Jenkins had as tough a comeback as a lineman can have after tearing his ACL. His comeback was remarkably quick, training for the first time at the August camp. 14, less than nine months after surgery. The Packers kept him inactive for their opener at Minnesota, not wanting to expose his knee to the same turf that tore him in his opener. When Jenkins started his first game a week later against Chicago, he was the right tackle.
Even if Jenkins hadn’t played through the rust of his extended absence, the transition could have been difficult. He had rarely played at right tackle in his career before starting the first five games there this season. His game was uncharacteristically sloppy early on, especially by his standards. Jenkins allowed two sacks against the Bears — more than he’d allowed his entire rookie season — and didn’t seem in good spirits.
“My technique was horrible,” he said after the match.
Jenkins said it took time to adjust after a lack of camp representatives at an unfamiliar position.
“When I came back to guard,” Jenkins said, “I could feel my technique, it was better than tackling. Because, no apologies, but I didn’t play a good tackle before coming back. So when I came back to guard, I was like, ‘OK, let me wear myself out at this’ and I knew I would get good.”
LaFleur said he got to see Jenkins’ swagger again a few weeks ago, first in practice and then in games. At his best, he is an elite lineman who is equally suited to pass protection and run blocking. The Packers are confident, Jenkins has good years ahead of him.
That’s why, when the banter died down, LaFleur acknowledged Jenkins’ extension was quite a gift for the Packers. With him on the court, LaFleur has the luxury of moving a Pro Bowl-caliber lineman to multiple locations, giving him the flexibility to lay out the rest of his lineup.
“He’s just done so many great things,” LaFleur said, “and it’s great to see someone also fight through adversity, go through a knee injury. It obviously took him a bit of time to starting this year, that is, but he’s gotten better and better, and I think you’ve seen him lately, every week he seems to be getting a little better.
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