Packers Pro Bowl OL Elgton Jenkins to return 'at some point' during 2022 season

The Green Bay Packers are allegedly on the cusp of convincing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to run it back for another season and theoretically can retain the rights to All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams via the franchise tag if they don't sign him to an extension. 

While keeping the figurative band together is on the minds of general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur during the NFL Scouting Combine, the status of one-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins is more complicated. Jenkins went down with a torn ACL on Nov. 21, an injury that often requires an entire year of recovery before a player can return to meaningful action. 

Per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, LaFleur hinted Friday he's preparing to be without the 26-year-old through the start of the 2022 campaign. 

"Elgton’s doing a great job. He’s attacking it just the way you’d expect him to," LaFleur explained. "I’m excited about just the progress that he’s made and we expect him to be back to full strength at some point during the season." 

It was reported Thursday Rodgers could soon sign a new deal with the Packers that includes voidable years to offer the organization needed salary-cap help. The four-time NFL Most Valuable Player may ask Gutekunst to spend some of that cash on a protector up front if it appears Jenkins will miss more than a couple of games this fall.