Channel3000.com<\/a> and by other outlets.<\/p>\n\u201cThey had a conversation, and obviously the conversation was going on for a long period of time,\u201d Jenkins said. \u201cBut right now where we\u2019re at is, [I\u2019m] focusing on the being the best player I can be.<\/p>\n
\u201c[I\u2019ve] been playing this game for 20-some years, seven years in the league. I\u2019m very confident in my ability and what I can do. The financial side, I know that\u2019s going to come. Right now, it\u2019s just, how can we build chemistry within the O-line to get better and as an offense?\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked directly if he expects the front office to alter his contract before this season starts, Jenkins replied, \u201cNo, I don\u2019t. Like I said, right now, it\u2019s just being the best player I can be, being the best teammate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know what I\u2019m going to do this season. I\u2019m confident in my ability \u2014 very confident in it. So just going out there playing ball, keep doing what I\u2019ve been doing and it\u2019s going to take care of itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
With a base salary of $11.7 million this year and $18.5 million in 2026 \u2014 and no guarantees left in his deal \u2014 there\u2019s nothing keeping the Packers from dumping him after the 2025 season and after he hits the not-so-magical age of 30.<\/p>\n
Jenkins is currently the second-oldest scrimmage player on the roster, behind only defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who\u2019ll turn 30 on Oct. 4. The only players on the roster who\u2019ve already celebrated their 30th birthdays are 34-year-old kicker Brandon McManus and 30-year-old long-snapper Matt Orzech.<\/p>\n
Considering Jenkins\u2019 shift to center had been the linchpin of the Packers\u2019 reconfiguration of their offensive line \u2014 leading to the signing of ex-San Francisco 49ers left guard Aaron Banks to man Jenkins\u2019 old position \u2014 and the fact that general manager Brian Gutekunst himself said during the offseason that the team believes Jenkins has the ability to be an \u201cAll-Pro\u201d center, Jenkins clearly thought the team might be amenable to altering his deal.<\/p>\n
Instead, Jenkins said he has gotten no assurances that his contract will be adjusted down the road. He also claimed that \u201cchanges in my family\u201d made him want to spend time with them during the voluntary portion of the offseason program.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cwanted to just be careful. I didn\u2019t want to rush myself back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jenkins\u2019 participation in Monday\u2019s drill work before practice \u2014 but not in any of the 11-on-11 periods \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re about to learn about all these guys,\u201d LaFleur said of the group before practice began.<\/p>\n
Jenkins said he believes can play \u201cfive, six more\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
He also said that he was the one who first broached the subject of moving to center with the team, mentioning it last year.<\/p>\n
When asked during his exit interview following the team\u2019s season-ending playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles \u2014 a game he departed after four offensive snaps because of a stinger injury that left one side of his body numb \u2014 he said he\u2019d think about it. Shortly thereafter, he said he\u2019d do it.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI played it in college, got drafted here as a center. It\u2019s not going to be anything different,\u201d Jenkins said. \u201cI played it last year, played it a couple games early in my career, so it\u2019s not going to be nothing crazy. And I feel like I\u2019ll to be a great center in this league.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like the sky\u2019s the limit, honestly. I can be an All-Pro, Pro Bowl [center]. Same guy \u2014 probably even better, honestly. We\u2019re just going to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
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