Packers Sign G Laken Tomlinson

The struggles of Green Bay’s O-line were on full display in a 35-14 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night. The unit, which went without left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele, allowed 12 hits to quarterback Jordan Love and cleared the way for a meager 17 rushing yards on nine attempts.

Off to a 1-2 start, the Packers rank 26th in pressure rate and 31st in average time to throw, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. They’re a similarly disastrous 30th in yards per carry. To worsen matters, Bako-Bewele – the Packers’ best lineman – will miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. The news isn’t as dire with Banks, who has a toe injury, but the team is nonetheless bringing in another veteran guard.

Tomlinson, whom the Lions took in the first round of the 2015 draft, played for five teams and amassed 162 starts in 173 appearances during his first 11 years in the NFL. The 34-year-old has spent nearly his entire career at left guard, Banks’ position. The Packers have used third-year man Jacob Monk as their starter on the right side, but it hasn’t gone well. Monk has allowed 11 pressures, the most among guards, according to Mark Chichester of Pro Football Focus.

Whether Tomlinson will start or provide an upgrade in Green Bay is in question, as the one-time Pro Bowler endured one of his worst years in 2025. Tomlinson opened the season as the Texans’ starting LG, but they demoted him to the bench after seven games and waived him in early December. He later caught on with the Ravens’ practice squad, though they never elevated him for any games. Tomlinson then sat in free agency from March until he joined the Cowboys’ practice squad on Sept. 9.