The Green Bay Packers entered training camp knowing that things on the offensive line would be different for the upcoming season after head coach Mike McCarthy decided to switch some players up and down the line, but the team had no idea how much it would be affected later on, as left tackle Bryan Bulaga went down with a season ending injury before the preseason started.
While the team has shuffled things up heading into the preseason, there is a chance they could really shake things up with a trade. According to ESPN.com, a reader asked blogger Bill Williamson about the chances that the Chiefs trade Branden Albert to the Packers after the team lost Bryan Bulaga for the season. Albert previously was mentioned in trade talks when he was franchised and after the Chiefs selected Eric Fisher number one, many thought he would be traded.
The report says that it seems like an interesting option, but at this point the Packers likely will stick with what they have and that the Chiefs are okay with keeping Albert for this season. The two sides could hammer out a long-term deal as Albert is playing on a one-year contract for $9.8 million, but that seems unlikely now. The Chiefs may try and sign him after the season and they feel comfortable having Fisher work out at right tackle for now.
McCarthy was forced to change things up again after Bulaga was injured before the first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals and that would be the first chance to see the changed-up offensive line in action. David Bakhtiari started at left tackle for the team and the rest of the line with Josh Sitton and others looked good, especially to Aaron Rodgers, who had a clean early part of the game before he was pulled. Rodgers and the running game will benefit the most if the offensive line can improve from last year, as the quarterback took way too many hits.
The Packers are looking to get more balanced on offense after drafting Eddie Lacy and Jonathan Franklin and along with Alex Green and James Starks the team has depth at the position. The loss of Bulaga is a big one, but the offensive line looked good in the first game on Friday and that will be something for McCarthy to build on moving forward. Rodgers played in one series and finished going 3-for-five with 62 yards and the line looked solid on the first drive of the game.
The Packers are taking it easy with players like Rodgers as well as Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson in the preseason, as both are dealing with injuries and the team is expecting a playoff run after making it to the Super Bowl two years ago. Rodgers is considered by many as the best quarterback in the league and it remains to be seen if the loss of Greg Jennings will hurt the offense and fantasy players can expect more production from Cobb as well as James Jones.