The NFL season is two weeks old but the Green Bay Packers still have some big questions concerning their offensive line. There are two main areas of uncertainty entering the team’s Week 3 game against the 49ers. Who will start at left guard and whether starting left tackle Elgton Jenkins will be healthy enough to play on Sunday.

The Green Bay Packers had a competition at guard during training camp with multiple players battling for the two starting spots that were available after Elgton Jenkins shifted out to left tackle to take over while David Bakhtiari continues to rehab from his knee injury.

By the end of camp, rookie Royce Newman won the right guard spot while last year’s starter on the right side, Lucas Patrick, emerged as the starter on the left side.

But in the season opener against the Saints, Patrick struggled against a tough New Orleans defensive line, especially in pass protection. He was beaten badly on several plays and it resulted in pressure against quarterback Aaron Rodgers and at least one sack. He graded out very low in pass protection according to Pro Football Focus and suffered an injury late in the game that landed him in concussion protocol.

The injury kept Patrick out of practice last week and although he had cleared concussion protocol and was on the active roster against the Lions, head coach Matt LaFleur decided to play Jon Runyan, Jr. at left guard ahead of Patrick. Runyan had a strong game and graded out significantly higher than Patrick did in pass protection despite being beaten badly on one play that resulted in a sack of Rodgers.

LaFleur has indicated that the battle for playing time at guard will likely continue in the coming weeks. After the Lions game, he told reporters, “It’s going to be a competitive situation throughout. Runyan practiced all week and we felt comfortable with him. We felt it was probably best for Lucas long-term, as well, to only use him if absolutely necessary just to kind of let him rest another week. We decided to go with Runyan early in the week. We’ll look at it on a week-to-week basis. We’re always trying to get the best five out there.”

Runyan was expected to be battle for a starting spot in training camp, but the Packers were apparently unhappy with his lack of strength in the weight room according to several reports. He still made the team but did not earn either starting guard position.

LaFleur has a tough decision to make. The Packers have at least four more games scheduled until Bakhtiari can return to the lineup. Either Patrick or Runyan will likely start at left guard until Bakhtiari is activated off the PUP list and Jenkins moves back to left guard.

Both players have their limitations and their advantages. Patrick is more experienced and started 15 games at right guard for the Packers last season. He is a tenacious run blocker and had a solid 2020 campaign although he struggles against better interior linemen who have exceptional speed and/or strength.

The Packers coaching staff knows what they have in Patrick. He is reliable, consistent and a solid teammate who has defended his fellow Packers once or twice when things got rough. The former Duke star also provides the team with versatility as he can play either guard position or at center.

Runyan has less experience than Patrick but appears to have a greater upside. He played in three games on offense for the Packers last season despite being a rookie and not having the benefit of OTAs or preseason games to prepare for the season. He played respectably in all three instances he was called upon and never looked overwhelmed by the assignment given to him.

He again played well against the Lions on Monday night, setting up a situation where the team has a choice to make as to who will get the start on any given week.

For Jenkins, the issue is his health and his availability will be critical to the team’s preparations for the 49ers game. Jenkins was forced to miss Wednesday’s team practice because of an ankle injury. The coaching staff has said they will give Jenkins the entire week to see if he can be ready to go on Sunday night which may mean more missed practices for the third-year man out of Mississippi.

If Jenkins can’t go, the Packers have two options at left tackle. They can move starting right tackle Billy Turner to the left side and then play Dennis Kelly at right tackle. The problem there is that Turner struggled when they moved him to the left side last season, particularly in the NFC Championship Game against Tampa Bay.

Kelly would likely be the other option at left tackle if Jenkins is unable to go which would allow Turner to stay on the right side. Yosh Nijman is also available although Nijman has yet to start an NFL game or even take a snap on offense yet this season.

The 49ers have a strong defensive front seven and whoever the Packers starting left tackle will be, he will be matched up against San Francisco’s top edge rusher, Nick Bosa.

Obviously, the offensive line will be a key to the team’s chances to win Sunday night. The coaching staff has some tough decisions to make ahead of this week’s game.