– After lining up with countless offensive line combinations over the course of training camp and the preseason, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur has picked his starting five for the Sept.
The biggest question is at left tackle, where All-Pro David Bakhtiari remains on the physically unable to perform list with the ACL torn on New Year’s Eve.
Newman, a fourth-round pick, has played well enough in his two starts that his performance and room for growth would seem to make him a near-lock to be the Week 1 starter.
Patrick had an excellent season last year, making 13 starts at right guard and four at left guard.
“One thing about Lucas is he’s always got that chip-on-his-shoulder mentality, which guys that have come up from undrafted to being a backup to earning a starting job,” offensive line coach Adam Stenavich said.
Back to Bakhtiari, LaFleur said, “You guys will know soon enough” what the plan is for the dominant left tackle.
He’d miss the first six weeks of practice, too, so it’s unlikely that he would go from the sideline to the Week 7 starting lineup.
While every game is important, it needs Bakhtiari to be at his best in November and beyond.