GREEN BAY – Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker was easing back into 11-on-11 snaps slowly during practices last week, but Monday he was feeling as close to full-go as he's been since a groin injury cropped up prior to Family Night.
Walker took all the reps at his customary left tackle spot with the first-team offense in a rainy, closed practice. Meanwhile his competition for the starting job, 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan, was working at left guard as Aaron Banks deals with a back issue.
Multiple coaches indicated Sunday the competition between Walker and Morgan remains open for the spot Walker has held down the last two seasons, but he wasn't going to let any uncertainty about his job force him back onto the field too soon.
He termed the groin a "minor injury" but feels he served himself well by staying patient, even if it meant no preseason game action thus far.
"No one likes having injuries and stuff, but I feel like I play my best and I'm more valuable to the team when I'm healthy, so I had to take some time to get back healthy," Walker said after Monday's workout. "But coming back, I feel like I've picked up right where I left off.
"When I came back today, I tried to just be really on top of my stuff to show myself that I haven't really dropped off or anything."
Morgan is doing what he can to put the pressure on. He's performed well at left tackle in both preseason games, including this past Saturday in Indianapolis, where he was matched up against a fellow 2024 first-round pick in edge rusher Laiatu Latu.
Morgan has received positive reviews for his performance, as he's showing no ill effects from the shoulder surgery that cut his rookie year short.
But Walker is still the incumbent, and earlier in camp General Manager Brian Gutekunst indicated it would take a lot for him to be unseated.
As for having to fight to keep his job at left tackle after starting 35 games there, including playoffs, Walker isn't going to act like he's entitled to anything. If he's bothered by the situation, which might only be natural, especially for a player in a contract year – this is the final year of the 2022 seventh-round pick's rookie deal – he's not letting on.
"I mean shoot, no one's really said it to me, but I just come to work every day and go to work," he said. "That's all you can do. I'm a team-first guy. I'm with the Green Bay Packers, so shoot, I'm gonna come to work every day, do my job."
How the practice reps get divvied up the rest of this week remains to be seen, and it could be dependent on Banks' health. The Packers practiced in their "uppers" or partial pads Monday. They're slated to be in full pads Tuesday and for the joint practice with the Seahawks on Thursday.
For his part, Walker felt good about how Monday went and was eager to watch the film, get back into his regular routine and see what the rest of the final week of training camp brings.
He did share a lighthearted moment from Indy as well. Asked how he felt fellow linemate Anthony Belton rebounded from a tough, penalty-filled first half, Walker gave him credit and also mentioned that with so many people in Belton's ear about his alignment issues, Walker simply "threw him a snack" at halftime, a piece of fruit to be more precise.
"I just gave him a snack to kind of clear his mind," Walker said. "Just eat this clementine, man, just refocus. It's all good. And that's when he had a good second half."
