Packers Sign Kevin Zeitler as Historic Rushing Collapse Forces Emergency Offensive Line Overhaul

Green Bay’s ground game has deteriorated so severely through three weeks that the franchise is raiding the veteran free-agent market for former first-round picks to stop the bleeding. The latest reinforcement arrived Wednesday when the Packers signed 36-year-old guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year contract worth $4.05 million, with incentives pushing the maximum value to $5 million.

The move represents an unprecedented in-season scramble for general manager Brian Gutekunst, whose roster sits at 1-2 while producing historically poor offensive line metrics. Green Bay averages 48.7 rushing yards per game, the lowest mark in the NFL. The team’s 146 total rushing yards through three games marks its worst opening stretch since at least 1933. Pass protection has fared no better, with a 16% pass block win rate standing as the franchise’s worst through three games since ESPN began tracking the metric in 2017.

Zeitler, a native of the Milwaukee area who played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin, slots directly into a right guard position where first-year starter Jacob Monk has struggled. Selected 27th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2012 NFL draft, Zeitler has appeared in 214 career games and spent last season anchoring the Tennessee Titans’ interior. He started 16 games in 2025, playing 92% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps and posting a 92.2 pass block win rate alongside right tackle JC Latham. However, his season was complicated by groin and biceps injuries, culminating in a quadriceps injury during Week 18 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite those physical setbacks, Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi publicly evaluated him entering the 2025 campaign as “one of the best guards in football.”

The Packers are not relying solely on Zeitler to stabilize a unit decimated by early-season attrition. Right tackle Zach Tom — a critical component of the blocking scheme — suffered a season-ending knee injury during the opener. His absence forced continuous shuffling across the front five, including three different starters at left guard in three games.

To address the depth crisis, Green Bay signed guard Laken Tomlinson off the Dallas Cowboys practice squad Saturday. Tomlinson, the 28th overall pick in 2015, spent most of his career at left guard and previously played under current Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich during their shared time with the San Francisco 49ers. The team also added Mekhi Becton, the 11th overall selection in 2020, to its practice squad. Becton provides rare positional flexibility, having played both guard and tackle on either side of the formation throughout his career.

NFL rules dictate that players elevated from the practice squad or signed midweek face immediate logistical hurdles regarding playbook installation and snap-count communication. Stenavich indicated Tuesday — before Zeitler finalized his agreement — that deploying the newly acquired linemen against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week remains viable.

“We’re going to do whatever we can to put the best guys out there,” Stenavich said. “We’ve got to see where they’re at and just where they’re at with the playbook and the calls and everything like that, with the game plan. But yeah, everything’s a possibility, and we’re going to try and explore all avenues.”

Acquiring three former first-round selections within a single week reflects how dire the blocking situation has become. Historically, teams that rank last in rushing efficiency after three games rarely recover playoff positioning without significant schematic adjustments or personnel changes, as defensive coordinators exploit predictable passing downs. Zeitler allowed 10 sacks last season while winning 70% of his run-blocking reps, numbers that suggest he arrives as a functional upgrade but not a flawless solution to a systemic breakdown.

Green Bay prepares to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night, where the coaching staff must determine which combination of veterans will take the field to protect quarterback Jordan Love.