GREEN BAY \u2014 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He must really like what he and the Packers offensive coaches have seen from rookie fifth-round pick Jager Burton so far.<\/p>\n
Last week, Burton got snaps with the No. 1 offensive line as part of a rotation on the right side of the offensive line \u2014 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\u2019s usual spot, with Burton getting the right guard work when Belton was at tackle.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019d be asked about Burton\u2019s opportunity.<\/p>\n
And when he was, LaFleur\u2019s reply was far more than clich\u00e9s and platitudes about a rookie getting an unexpected opportunity with the No. 1 line.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see a really young guy that’s extremely coachable, athletic, and is\u00a0maximizing the most of his opportunities,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cI think every practice, he gets a little bit more comfortable, a little bit better, and I can see him [improving].<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s definitely going to be in the mix to compete for playing time this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 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 \u2014 suggesting that Burton had positioned himself as a legit candidate for playing time constituted news.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 23 career games at left guard, 15 at center and nine at right guard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was an attractive piece to his game, that versatility and flexibility,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201c. So I think he’s got a chance to impact really any of the inside three positions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Banks, who watched Burton all week: \u201cJager\u2019s been great. He\u2019s a really smart guy. He\u2019s 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 \u2014 for a young guy especially. He\u2019s always asking questions, always listening intentionally, really just trying to get better every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
For his part, Burton understands the opportunity he\u2019s had, and while he\u2019s not assuming anything, he knows this is just a potential starting point for him \u2014 with a lot of work ahead to make it mean more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven’t even put on pads yet, and we obviously have some guys out, but it\u2019s still awesome, just to get to experience the difference in going with the 1s,\u201d Burton said. \u2018You’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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s a situation when I\u2019m in there. I\u2019m excited to just do whatever\u2019s going to give us the best chance to win games, whatever that is.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Burton will be among the rookies taking part in next week\u2019s final organized team activity practices \u2014 the veterans have been dismissed and won\u2019t have to be back in Green Bay until reporting to camp on July 28 \u2014 he\u2019s looking forward to heading home to Kentucky and decompressing before getting back to work.<\/p>\n
If you can even call it that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m definitely excited to see my family, but this is what I\u2019ve wanted to do my whole life. It\u2019s corny, but if you\u2019re doing what you love, you don\u2019t work. It\u2019s been awesome just being here and I\u2019m super-excited for the season and training camp \u2014 take it day-by-day and see where we end up.\u201d<\/p>\n
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