Green Bay Packers decide on $77M starter ahead of Vikings opener; what it means for the season.

Green Bay has an injury update ahead of Week 1, but head coach Matt LaFleur left little doubt about Aaron Banks’s role if he is cleared to play. Banks, a veteran guard, has been working back from a knee issue throughout training camp and will be limited during Wednesday’s practice. Nonetheless, LaFleur indicated that the $77 million guard remains Green Bay’s preferred starter at left guard if he is cleared for Sunday’s opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

If Banks is able to go, he will start at left guard, according to LaFleur. The proclamation comes after rookie Jager Burton gained first-team reps while Banks recovered, providing Green Bay with a viable interior option. Burton’s emergence gave the Packers extra depth at the position, but LaFleur’s comments still favor Banks when healthy, leaving little room for a Week 1 competition.

The Week 1 matchup is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. CT on CBS.

Banks has been a major focus this summer due to his knee. He took his first 11-on-11 snaps of training camp in mid-August after being largely limited to individual work. Those sessions were described as a significant step, with Banks emphasizing a compressed ramp-up period.

During the offseason, Banks’ absence opened opportunities for Burton to showcase himself. The Kentucky product earned first-team opportunities during mandatory minicamp and continued to receive looks at left guard as Banks rehabbed. By mid-August, Burton was still taking first-team snaps, providing Green Bay with a credible contingency plan as Banks battled the knee issue. This extended evaluation allowed Burton to compete against starting-caliber competition and earned him further consideration.

Despite Burton’s progress, Banks has consistently been viewed as the top option at left guard when healthy. The team has invested heavily in Banks, signing him to a four-year, $77 million contract in March 2025 after a strong run with the 49ers. Banks arrived in Green Bay with extensive experience and a reputation as a powerful run blocker capable of reaching the second level.

Banks’ first year with the Packers included some injury-related interruptions, but his performance improved as he recovered. For 2026, the organization expected him to hold the starting left guard role, barring any setback. The current question is whether his knee will cooperate in time for the Minnesota game.

Green Bay has depth behind Banks, notably with Burton showing productive summer form, but the coaching staff has been clear about the pecking order. If Banks clears medically, the plan is to return him to the lineup at left guard, reinforcing the Packers’ interior protection and run-blocking plans for the season opener.