The Green Bay Packers right guard position battle is not over by any stretch. Or perhaps the player who was expected to win the job all along is still in the pole position to win it.
Anthony Belton was projected to start at right guard, but in recent weeks he has been pushed out to right tackle. It was easy to perceive this as losing his chance at right guard. However, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich cleared things up.
Belton is still firmly in the right guard mix and is only playing tackle out of necessity.
“He’s doing just fine,” said Stenavich on his standing in the right guard battle. “His situation with moving to tackle is just with the injuries and what’s going on with Zach (Bako-Bewele) and everything like that.”
Stenavich made it clear that he is only at right tackle because of the injury to Bako-Bewele. Once he returns to the starting lineup, Belton will likely be right back into this role as the starting right guard.
“As Zach’s working his way back in, we’re kind of working Belton at tackle just to give him some reps out there right now,” said Stenavich, who brushed off the change. “But that doesn’t mean he’s not in the mix at guard right now, so it’s just kind of how everything’s shaking out.”
None of the options at right guard have stepped up since they shifted Belton to tackle, which could have played a role in Belton not losing any standing.
Green Bay Packers OL Anthony Belton Still in the Mix at Right Guard
GettyPackers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich.
Based on what Stenvich said, it is easy to frame the switch as an actual win for Belton. They not only think Belton is their best option at right guard; they realize that if Bako-Bewele went down, he would also shift into their best option at right tackle as well.
So, rather than keeping Belton at the position they feel good about him at, the team is letting him work at tackle. If Bako-Bewele went down, the team would plan to shift their starter over based on the work he is getting this year.
The counter is that Belton does not have much experience at guard, and now the team is taking snaps away from that spot. However, Stenavich made it clear that Belton is fine at right guard. The confidence in the second-year player is surprising given the news of the past couple of weeks.
Packers Still High on Belton Entering 2026
Belton was a second-round pick from North Carolina State. He played left tackle throughout his college career. However, an injury to Elgton Jenkins at center had the Packers shift Sean Rhyan inside to center. To replace Rhyan at right guard, the team tried Belton.
Belton started seven games at right guard as a rookie, including the playoffs. He had 463 total snaps.
His biggest competition at right guard might be rookie Jager Burton, who has been working at left guard due to the injury to Aaron Banks. The Packers are high on Burton and Belton and want them to get work with the starters in case Banks and Bako-Bewele are hurt.
Meanwhile, Donovan Jennings and Jacob Monk have struggled at right guard. The two not playing there seem to have the advantage as we close in on the start of the regular season.
Packers Coach Sets Record Straight on Starting RG Battle