GREEN BAY — In the end, Elgton Jenkins did the math. And he decided to cut his losses and get to work.

In recent days, it had become clear to the Green Bay Packers Pro Bowl left guard-turned-starting center that the organization would not be reworking his contract in advance of the start of the regular season.

And given the stakes — and given the work he needs as he makes his position switch in order to be ready for the Sept. 7 opener against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field — he couldn’t continue nursing his offseason back injury and hoping the team would guarantee some of money remaining in his contract.

So there he was, in full pads and his No. 74 jersey, back on Ray Nitschke Field for Monday’s first in-pads practice of camp after staying away from the entire voluntary portion of the team’s offseason program and reporting to — but not participating in — the mandatory June minicamp.

Jenkins, who spent the first five days of camp on the non-football injury list before being activated Monday morning, confirmed to the gaggle of reporters surrounding him inside the team’s new luxe locker room that he had indeed sought to have his contract adjusted, as had been reported on Channel3000.com and by other outlets.

“They had a conversation, and obviously the conversation was going on for a long period of time,” Jenkins said. “But right now where we’re at is, [I’m] focusing on the being the best player I can be.

“[I’ve] been playing this game for 20-some years, seven years in the league. I’m very confident in my ability and what I can do. The financial side, I know that’s going to come. Right now, it’s just, how can we build chemistry within the O-line to get better and as an offense?”

Asked directly if he expects the front office to alter his contract before this season starts, Jenkins replied, “No, I don’t. Like I said, right now, it’s just being the best player I can be, being the best teammate.

“I know what I’m going to do this season. I’m confident in my ability — very confident in it. So just going out there playing ball, keep doing what I’ve been doing and it’s going to take care of itself.”

Of course, there are two factors working against Jenkins in his hopes of the contract taking care of itself: The fact that players at his new position (center) get paid less than players at his old one (guard), and the way the Packers have become disinclined to pay players who have celebrated their 30th birthday.

That’s why Jenkins wanted some of the remaining $30.2 million left on his contract to be guaranteed, giving him a measure of security amid his position switch and with his 30th birthday arriving on Dec. 26, the day after Christmas.

With a base salary of $11.7 million this year and $18.5 million in 2026 — and no guarantees left in his deal — there’s nothing keeping the Packers from dumping him after the 2025 season and after he hits the not-so-magical age of 30.

Jenkins is currently the second-oldest scrimmage player on the roster, behind only defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who’ll turn 30 on Oct. 4. The only players on the roster who’ve already celebrated their 30th birthdays are 34-year-old kicker Brandon McManus and 30-year-old long-snapper Matt Orzech.

Considering Jenkins’ shift to center had been the linchpin of the Packers’ reconfiguration of their offensive line — leading to the signing of ex-San Francisco 49ers left guard Aaron Banks to man Jenkins’ old position — and the fact that general manager Brian Gutekunst himself said during the offseason that the team believes Jenkins has the ability to be an “All-Pro” center, Jenkins clearly thought the team might be amenable to altering his deal.

Instead, Jenkins said he has gotten no assurances that his contract will be adjusted down the road. He also claimed that “changes in my family” made him want to spend time with them during the voluntary portion of the offseason program.

Asked about the back injury that landed him on the NFI list to start camp, Jenkins said it happened early in the offseason while lifting weights and that he “wanted to just be careful. I didn’t want to rush myself back.”

Jenkins’ participation in Monday’s drill work before practice — but not in any of the 11-on-11 periods — gave head coach Matt LaFleur his first look in camp at his likely starting five: Rasheed Walker at left tackle, Banks at left guard, Jenkins at center, Sean Rhyan at right guard and Zach Tom at right tackle.

“I think we’re about to learn about all these guys,” LaFleur said of the group before practice began.

Jenkins said he believes can play “five, six more” seasons at his elite level, which would take him to age 34 or 35. And perhaps his move to center might even extend his career.

He also said that he was the one who first broached the subject of moving to center with the team, mentioning it last year.

When asked during his exit interview following the team’s season-ending playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles — a game he departed after four offensive snaps because of a stinger injury that left one side of his body numb — he said he’d think about it. Shortly thereafter, he said he’d do it.

Although he played center in college at Mississippi State, Jenkins has played just 378 of his 5,431 career offensive snaps at center and started only one game there last year (a Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions at a rainy Lambeau Field).

Still, he believes the switch will be seamless, although he also acknowledged that the more work he gets with quarterback Jordan Love in training camp, the better.

“I played it in college, got drafted here as a center. It’s not going to be anything different,” Jenkins said. “I played it last year, played it a couple games early in my career, so it’s not going to be nothing crazy. And I feel like I’ll to be a great center in this league.

“I feel like the sky’s the limit, honestly. I can be an All-Pro, Pro Bowl [center]. Same guy — probably even better, honestly. We’re just going to see.”

​COPYRIGHT 2025 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.