The Las Vegas Raiders’ defense is looking to have an improved performance as they welcome the Green Bay Packers to Allegiant Stadium for Monday Night Football.
The Silver and Black defense is allowing an average completion percentage of nearly 71 percent, the seventh-highest in the NFL. They have allowed eight touchdown receptions, fifth-most in the NFL.
The Raiders have also allowed the eighth-most rushing yards in the NFL with 537. Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham’s unit must perform better if they want to get their season on track.
That could be hard to come by against the Packers’ offensive line, especially one of their top linemen, Elgton Jenkins. Jenkins has been a consistent presence for the Packers since he was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State.
Jenkins made an immediate impact as a rookie, playing over 960 snaps and not allowing a sack, according to Pro Football Focus. Jenkins played a majority of his snaps at left guard in his first two seasons, but has since moved around the line and played snaps at all five positions.
In 2020, Jenkins played 681 snaps at left guard, 297 at center, 32 at right tackle, and 27 at left tackle. He played 496 snaps at left tackle in 2021 before tearing his ACL.
Jenkins, a two-time Pro Bowler, was rewarded for his consistent and impressive play when he signed a four-year, $68 million contract extension. He has allowed just six sacks in 3,530 career snaps.
Jenkins has played just two games this season, suffering a sprained MCL and missing the Packers’ games against the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions. He is off the injury report and will make his return to the field against the Raiders, a massive boost to the Packers’ offensive game plan.
Jenkins is 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, making him tough to move as a run blocker and hard to get around as a pass blocker.
The Raiders have seven sacks this season, fourth-fewest in the NFL, and Maxx Crosby has four of them. They need to find ways to disrupt the offensive line, but that could be difficult against a player like Jenkins, who can play almost every position on the line at a high level.
The Silver and Black return home to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas next week to play the Green Bay Packers on Monday, Oct. 9, at 8:15 p.m. EDT/5:15 p.m. PDT.
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