Cheesehead
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Center wasn't completely foreign to Jenkins at the NFL level. He takes part in the center-quarterback exchange drills in practice and technically snapped a couple times in the final moments of a 34-17 win over the 49ers a few weeks ago, when LaFleur was trying to get all of his offensive linemen into the game.
Yet, Jenkins' 50-snap appearance against the Colts was essential for a Packers offense that doesn't carry a natural center on its 53-man roster other than Linsley.
Jenkins said it wasn't too difficult getting on the same page with making line calls because of the foundation he's built in practice, shadowing Linsley over the past two years.
He also has a vast knowledge bank to lean on from his time at Mississippi State, where Jenkins started 26 games at center, five at left tackle, two at left guard and one at right tackle.
"Around the building, we always say, 'Don't blink,'" said Jenkins on Monday. "I played all positions in college and I play all positions here in the NFL, so just going out there it's really about knowing your assignment, knowing the technique and doing your job."
Getting thrown into the in-game fire hasn't been an issue, either. The Packers went into the game against San Francisco without All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, which required right tackle Billy Turner to flip sides and veteran Rick Wagner to replace Turner.
Everything started fine until Wagner developed a knee injury that forced him out of the game. At halftime, the coaches asked the 24-year-old Jenkins if he was more comfortable playing left tackle or right.
Jenkins, acknowledging right tackle has been Turner's home base this season, chose to move one spot to his left – accepting the responsibility of protecting Aaron Rodgers' blindside in the second half.