Paul Bretl | 7/28/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — On the practice field on Monday, the Packers’ fifth training camp practice, was Elgton Jenkins, who went through individual work as he ramps up after missing some time.
Prior to the first training camp practice, Jenkins was placed on the Non-Football Injury list (NFI) with what GM Brian Gutekunst said was a back issue. Jenkins was not present for OTAs, and while he was at mandatory minicamp, he did not practice during that time either.
Meeting with the local media at his locker following Monday’s practice, Jenkins said that he hurt his back while lifting weights early in the offseason. Not wanting to rush back, he let it heal so he could come back at “full speed.”
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“Just being out there with the guys was my favorite part,” said Jenkins about his return. “Having the pads on. Obviously, this was my first day, so we’re ramping it up. Just being out there, just being able to have fun, smile with them, go through the plays and stuff like that. It feels good to play football. I enjoyed it.”
Upon his return to the practice field on Monday, Jenkins took over as the Packers’ starting center rather than at left guard, where he was named a two-time Pro Bowler. This was a move that the Packers approached Jenkins about very early on in the offseason. In fact, the initial conversation came up in Jenkins’ exit meeting.
The Packers gave Jenkins time to think over the position change, but he was on board from the start.
“Honestly when he asked me the first time and I was like, yeah, lemme think on it,” Jenkins recalled. “I thought about it for a little while and he called again and I was like yeah, I’ll do it. I just go with life, let it flow honestly, but I don’t feel like I just thought about it a lot, a lot. It was just more he called, asked, I was like yeah, I’ll do it and go from there.”
Jenkins’ move to the center will not, however, come with any added financial stability. Although Jenkins has two years remaining on his current deal, none of the contract is guaranteed. Given the current structure of the deal, the Packers can save $20 million in cap space during the 2026 offseason if they were to release him.
Jenkins is also moving to a position that, around the NFL, isn’t earning the same type of money that guards are.
It was reported by ESPN that Jenkins was looking to get more guarantees added to his contract, a move that, on the Packers’ part, would have been unprecedented for a player still with two years left on his contract.
While not getting into the specifics of the conversations, Jenkins did say that his agent and the Packers spoke this offseason. But now, his focus is on playing center.
“They had a conversation, and obviously the conversation was going on for a long period of time, but right now where we’re at is focusing on the being the best player I can be,” Jenkins said. “Been playing this game for 20-some years, seven years in the league, I’m very confident in my ability and what I can do. The financial side, I know that’s going to come. Right now, it’s just how can we build chemistry within the O-line to get better and as an offense.”
The center position isn’t foreign to Jenkins by any means. During his final two seasons at Mississippi State, that’s where he started and played over 1,700 snaps. However, at the NFL level with the Packers, Jenkins has fewer than 400 regular-season snaps at that position. So admittedly, there is some rust that has to be knocked off.
“There was definitely some rust that had to be knocked off,” Jenkins said. “I’m about to get the ins and outs of things, but I played it in college, got drafted here as a center. It’s not going to be anything different. I played it last year, played it a couple games early in my career, so it’s not going to be nothing crazy and I feel like I’ll to be a great center in this league.”
Beyond the blocking component that comes with being a center, a huge part of that player’s responsibilities is making the pre-snap protection calls and any adjustments. Given Jenkins’ experience in the offense, that element should come relatively easily for him.
However, as he continues to ramp up and eventually get back into team drills, building that rapport with Jordan Love and the continuity with the offensive line unit as a whole, which features a new left guard in Aaron Banks, will make the practice reps quite valuable.
“I feel like the sky’s the limit, honestly,” Jenkins said about playing center. “I can be an All-Pro, Pro Bowl, same guy – probably even better, honestly. We’re just going to see.”