Green Bay Packers injuries to key stars sinking chances against 49ers

The Green Bay Packers got a huge bounce-back win last week but injuries are piling up for critical pieces as they enter a matchup with the 49ers.

Injuries were always going to play a big role for the Green Bay Packers early in the 2021 NFL season. That, of course, stemmed from stalwart left tackle David Bakhtiari being placed on the PUP list to start the year, putting him out of action until at least Week 7. But the injury woes haven’t stopped there.

Prior to their eventual rout of the Lions on Monday Night Football last week, Green Bay placed star edge rusher Za’Darius Smith on IR with a lingering back injury. Now, there’s another to add to the list as Pro Bowl offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, who has been filling in beautifully at left tackle for Bakhtiari, is listed as doubtful to play in Week 3 against the 49ers.

If things go as expected and Jenkins doesn’t play against San Francisco on Sunday Night Football, the options for the Packers would be to either put Dennis Kelly or Yosh Nijman at left tackle or move Billy Turner from right to left tackle. In either case, though, things are getting a bit worrisome for Green Bay, at least in this matchup.

Injuries for the Green Bay Packers don’t bode well for a matchup vs. the 49ers

Jenkins playing so well while moving from guard to left tackle was huge for the Packers in that it lessened the blow of being without Bakhtiari, an absolute wall on Aaron Rodgers’ blindside. But when you start putting replacement-level players in the mix, things can get concerning quickly.

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That’s especially true when you consider this isn’t a matchup against a run-of-the-mill defense on Sunday night in primetime but, rather, against the likes of Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Dee Ford and Javon Kinlaw on the San Francisco defensive line. That’s going to create consistently bothersome mismatches in favor of the Niners throughout the game.

Worsening matters is the fact that, without Smith, the Packers defense has had issues getting after opposing quarterbacks. Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey are hard enough to get past but it becomes increasingly difficult without your best pass-rusher on the field.

Make no mistake, the talent on the Green Bay Packers roster is still evident. But the injuries piling up for this team at key spots are starting to make you wonder if the team will be able to fully utilize that talent. In a game they need to win in order to assert themselves early in the NFC, the chances of beating San Francisco on the road are starting to dwindle.