GREEN BAY — Matt LaFleur surely knew the question was coming. That the Green Bay Packers head coach chose to answer it in the manner in which he did was telling. 

He must really like what he and the Packers offensive coaches have seen from rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton so far.

Last week, Burton got snaps with the No. 1 offensive line as part of a rotation on the right side of the offensive line — with starting right tackle Zach Tom still recovering from a partially torn patellar tendon, incumbent starting right guard Anthony Belton and backup tackle Darian Kinnard split time in Tom’s usual spot, with Burton getting the right guard work when Belton was at tackle.

And during the three-day mandatory minicamp that wrapped up Thursday, Burton spent all three practices with the No. 1 offense at left guard in place of starter Aaron Banks, whom LaFleur held out of practice after an injury-derailed first season with the Packers last year.

Anyone who was even half-heartedly watching those practices at Ray Nitschke Field or inside the Don Hutson Center saw Burton with the starters, so LaFleur undoubtedly knew he’d be asked about Burton’s opportunity.

And when he was, LaFleur’s reply was far more than clichés and platitudes about a rookie getting an unexpected opportunity with the No. 1 line.

“I see a really young guy that’s extremely coachable, athletic, and is maximizing the most of his opportunities,” LaFleur said. “I think every practice, he gets a little bit more comfortable, a little bit better, and I can see him [improving].

“He’s definitely going to be in the mix to compete for playing time this year.”

That final sentence, of course, was significant. With a group that seemingly would be set heading into the July 29 first practice of training camp — 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan at left tackle, Banks at left guard, Sean Rhyan at center, Belton at right guard and Tom at right tackle — suggesting that Burton had positioned himself as a legit candidate for playing time constituted news.

The 6-foot-4, 312-pound Burton, who will turn 24 in late August before the Packers kick off the season at Minnesota on Sept. 13, started 47 games across five college seasons at Kentucky — 23 career games at left guard, 15 at center and nine at right guard.

“That was an attractive piece to his game, that versatility and flexibility,” LaFleur said. “. So I think he’s got a chance to impact really any of the inside three positions.”

Added Banks, who watched Burton all week: “Jager’s been great. He’s a really smart guy. He’s picking up the playbook really well. He has a really good foundation of fundamentals coming into the league. I think he understands the game pretty well — for a young guy especially. He’s always asking questions, always listening intentionally, really just trying to get better every day.”

For his part, Burton understands the opportunity he’s had, and while he’s not assuming anything, he knows this is just a potential starting point for him — with a lot of work ahead to make it mean more.

“We haven’t even put on pads yet, and we obviously have some guys out, but it’s still awesome, just to get to experience the difference in going with the 1s,” Burton said. ‘You’re obviously going to mess up stuff sometimes, but not making repeat mistakes is a big emphasis here. If you mess something up once, don’t mess it up again. So that’s kind of been my focus.

“It’s an honor just to be in the position to be able to do that and just trying to do everything I can to make it not skip a beat whenever there’s a situation when I’m in there. I’m excited to just do whatever’s going to give us the best chance to win games, whatever that is.”

While Burton will be among the rookies taking part in next week’s final organized team activity practices — the veterans have been dismissed and won’t have to be back in Green Bay until reporting to camp on July 28 — he’s looking forward to heading home to Kentucky and decompressing before getting back to work.

If you can even call it that.

“I’m definitely excited to see my family, but this is what I’ve wanted to do my whole life. It’s corny, but if you’re doing what you love, you don’t work. It’s been awesome just being here and I’m super-excited for the season and training camp — take it day-by-day and see where we end up.”

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