Green Bay Packers left guard Aaron Banks has had a shaky preseason with the team. He started training camp on the PUP, and when he returned, head coach Matt LaFleur sent a warning to him that he would have to compete for his starting job.
However, before the Packers’ third preseason game, LaFleur was asked if he sees Banks in the starting lineup in Week 1, and LaFleur said he believes so.
“I think so, I believe so,” said LaFleur. “I think he’s made good progress, and ultimately he’s got to continue to put those days back-to-back-to-back, but I think that he’s definitely getting better; he’s trending in the right direction.”
LaFleur did not completely commit to Banks being the starter, but it does sound like as long as he does not miss any more significant time in the offseason, he is going to be there with the first team.
Aaron Banks on Track to Start For Green Bay Packers Week 1
This suggestion from LaFleur happened to come at the same time as a bit of a lineup change in practice.
Andy Herman of the Packer Report noted that Aaron Banks had gone from splitting work with rookie Jager Burton to working ahead of him.
“Lately Jager Burton and Aaron Banks have been lined up next to each other both practicing LG w the 1’s. Today it’s Banks with the 1s and Burton is at LG w the 2s,” tweeted Herman.
Burton was expected to compete with Anthony Belton at right guard this summer, but without Banks in the lineup, the team has been pushing the versatile rookie into that role. This caused the Packers head coach to send a warning to Banks that if he did not return to practice soon, his job would be in jeopardy.
“I think he’s going to make it extremely difficult. Jager has done a really good job. Not only him, but Monk,” said LaFleur. “(Banks) hasn’t been out there, so it’s hard to say.”
It was notable that Banks has not missed much time since that press conference, and he has officially been reinstated with the first-team.
Packers Need a Big Year From Banks
Banks signed a four-year, $77M deal in free agency this offseason. While he is only in year two, some alarm bells have started to go off about the potential finality of the deal. Banks had lingering issues throughout 2025 and was not quite himself on the field.
He was expected to come into his second year on the deal healthy and familiar with the offense. However, he had been banged up and was losing ground to a rookie.
If the team wants to move on from him, they would have to eat over $26M in cap space. They could make him a post-June 1 release and spread it into $9.9M in 2027 and $16.3M in 2028. If they released him before June 1 of next year, they would eat $26.3M in dead space.
The team is likely going to have him on the roster next year, so his return and progress is vital.
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