GREEN BAY — Jager Burton doesn’t know what will happen on Sunday. 

The Green Bay Packers rookie offensive lineman doesn’t know if Aaron Banks — the veteran he calls his “brother” — will start at his customary left guard position against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands, despite his ongoing issues with tendinitis in his left knee.

And if Banks can’t go — like he was unable to in last Sunday’s loss at Minnesota, where he was inactive for the Packers’ 39-22 loss — Burton couldn’t say whether he’d get the call to start, or Donovan Jennings would get the nod, as like he did against the Vikings.

All Burton could say for certain on Friday afternoon was this: If head coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich tab him to fill in for Banks, he’ll be ready.

“You’ve got to go into every week being ready, preparing like you’re the starter, and preparing like you’re going to be the guy who’s out there,” Burton said. “Because you just never know with injuries and how small the [game-day] roster is. So yeah, I feel I feel ready to go if that’s what ends up happening.”

Officially, both Banks and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele (knee) were listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report, just as they were a week earlier heading into Minnesota. Against the Vikings, Bako-Bewele played all 68 offensive snaps while Banks sat out.

Bako-Bewele said Friday he again expects to play.

“We’ve got some stuff to clean up but I made it through the game, so that was obviously a positive. But I’ve got to play better and we’ve got to play better as a unit,” Bako-Bewele said. “Playing 68 snaps, didn’t really have any issues, [so] that was obviously a positive.”

Banks was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s, Thursday’s and Friday’s practices but told reporters on Friday that he didn’t have time for an interview. LaFleur said Banks had a “good” practice in pads on Thursday but didn’t want to predict whether he’d play against the Jets.

“We’ll see,” LaFleur said. “We’ve got to see him through today and see where he’s at.”

If Banks can’t go, the question becomes whether Burton or Jennings replaces him.

“I’m so eager and ready to just get another taste of it, because I got that first taste and I’m ready to put all my improvement together and go out there and do it again,” Jennings said earlier in the week. “I think we’re all eager.

“The more time you spend around guys, obviously the more you get comfortable with different calls and all that, but no excuses — we’re going to go out there and be ready to play.”

Asked earlier in the week if he was concerned Banks’ knee issue would be a season-long battle, LaFleur replied, “I think that’s something that we’ll find out in time. I sure hope not. But unfortunately, over the last couple of years, I’ve learned that that’s not always the case, especially up front. We’ve had a lot of guys that have been in and out, and that’s just the way it is.”

The coaches’ decision to play Jennings over Burton at left guard against the Vikings was a curious one. LaFleur said after the game that the decision was based on “time on task,” while Stenavich said it was because Jennings was “doing a better job in practice” the last few weeks.

Jennings had played three career regular-season offensive snaps in his first two seasons after signing as an undrafted free agent, while Burton was a rookie fifth-round draft pick.  

But throughout the summer, Burton had taken virtually all of the first-team 11-on-11 snaps during the training-camp practices that Banks missed because of his knee. Even when Banks started taking part in 11-on-11 periods, Burton still took some of the reps with the starters.

He admitted Friday he was disappointed with the decision, and hinted that perhaps the coaches were concerned about a rookie playing in the deafening din of U.S. Bank Stadium and against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ blitzing, attacking scheme.

Quarterback Jordan Love was sacked four times, hit 18 times, pressured on 23 of his 46 drop backs and was under siege all afternoon.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously, I would have preferred to be out there. But at the end of the day, it’s way above my pay grade, and I trust the coaches,” Burton said. “’Donno,’ I personally believe, earned that opportunity. He’s been a guy that’s been here for a while and knows what it looks like to play those guys and knows what it feels like on a game day in the NFL.

“Personally, I did want to be out there. If I could have controlled it, I would have wanted to be out there. And at the end of the day, it is in my control [based on how I play], right? So for me, it’s just continuing to show them to have the trust in me to put me out there.”

Banks didn’t play in any of the Packers’ three preseason games while Burton played 105 snaps across the three games and Jennings played 106.

Burton started the first two preseason games at left guard and the preseason finale against Arizona at center. Jennings started at left guard against the Cardinals.

“In terms of feeling ready to be out there, to be able to go out there in the first and second preseason game when other teams are playing their starters, and be able to start those games and play those games and feel like you played well, gave me a lot of confidence that I don’t think I would have had if I wouldn’t have been able to be in that situation and be able to actually get on the field with guys that are playing in the regular season,” Burton said. “So it helped a lot, honestly, for me personally.

“For me just to be able to go against [Denver Broncos defensive tackle] Zach Allen, who’s got Pro Bowls under his belt, and be able to reassure myself like, ‘Hey, you can play with anybody,’ and it’s all about my approach and my preparation, and me taking the initiative to find a way to get better every day.

“To be honest, it’s a long season. At some point, I’m going to be out there. So, for me, it just gave me a lot more confidence than I think I would have if I was in this situation without getting those reps under my belt.”

Meanwhile, the Packers listed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (concussion) as doubtful, edge rusher Lukas Van Ness (concussion) as questionable and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (hamstring) as questionable. St-Juste was added to the report on Friday, an indication he sustained the injury during the week.

Hargrave’s symptoms surfaced on Wednesday, while Van Ness reported his issues on Monday.

Without Hargrave, the Packers would look to Jonathan Ford, who played 28 snaps against the Vikings, and Anthony Campbell, who was inactive at Minnesota.

“Whenever gameday comes, if I get an opportunity, I’m going to go out there and do my best,” Campbell said. “I’m not nervous or nothing. I’m just going to trust the process and do what I’ve been doing.”

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