The Packers less equipped to overcome Elgton Jenkins' absence second time around

While the Packers overcame Elgton Jenkins' absence for two weeks early in the season, they have fewer ways to mitigate his loss now following a wave of injuries on offense.

The Green Bay Packers suffered more than a defeat Sunday, losing do-everything offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins in addition to falling to the Minnesota Vikings. While the latter directly affects the Packers standing in the NFC playoff race, the absence of Jenkins creates more significant concerns for the team in the short and long term.

Since training camp, Jenkins had done the seemingly impossible, filling the void left by injured All-Pro David Bakhtiari at left tackle and doing so with aplomb. Jenkins played the position as well as a longtime starter, allowing just 12 total pressures over 306 dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. Those figures fall right in line with the ones Bakhtiari delivered a season ago, allowing Packers head coach Matt LaFleur to largely call plays with major restrictions as it pertains to the pass protection on the left side.

That approach changed in an instant when Jenkins crumpled to the ground early in the fourth quarter, suffering a knee injury the team has since confirmed will end his season. Without Jenkins skillfully manning the blindside, the Packers offense will look considerably different for the foreseeable future.