Green Bay Packers OL Elgton Jenkins was escorted off the practice field Wednesday after multiple fights with the Cincinnati Bengals. One target of his ire was Bengals tackle DJ Reader.
The Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals engaged in a not-so-friendly joint practice on Wednesday, during which multiple fights broke out. Both happened to involve Packers OL Elgton Jenkins, a two-time Pro Bowler with a hot temper.
First, Jenkins went after Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt, who shoved him to the ground. Okay, that's understandable. It's football, competition gets heated, you retaliate to a perceived slight. It happens.
Jenkins was removed from that drill and reinserted later, when he then decided to take a swing at Bengals tackle DJ Reader away from the play. Once is a mistake, twice is a pattern. Jenkins was escorted off the field at that point.
In the post-practice media scrum, Reader has strong words for the Packers' lineman. He channeled Aaron Rodgers for the perfect insult.
"Man, he's a jag, man," Reader told ESPN. "I don't know that guy. No idea who he is. I mean, I see he made two Pro Bowls, so good for him, but he blocked for Aaron Rodgers. That don't make you nobody."
Bengals' DJ Reader takes Aaron Rodgers-themed shot at Packers' Elgton Jenkins
It's a good burn, no doubt about it. While Elgton Jenkins has earned his two Pro Bowls and a positive reputation on the offensive line, there is a stark difference between blocking for Aaron Rodgers and blocking for, say, Jordan Love. Rodgers is notoriously quick to read the defense and make a decision. He makes life easier on his offensive linemen, or at least papers over a lot of mistakes.
Jenkins' heated practice exchanges came as a surprise to teammates, who aren't used to seeing him get riled up. "I know he'll never do it in the game, he's never done that in the game," said Packers DT David Bakhtiari. "So, the practice, I mean, it's a little bit different. You know you shouldn't, but you also know there's no consequences."
The Packers and Bengals will both move on with the regular season right around the corner. Reader could maybe consider a jab or two at his own offensive line, which has struggled to a comical degree to adequately protect Joe Burrow in recent seasons. Jenkins will have to regain composure and lock in for an important season. Protecting Jordan Love, who does not share Rodgers' reputation for quick reads, will present a new challenge.
Love was front and center for the scrums too. His priorities are in the right place, as he told ESPN. "Man, I'm not sure how it started or whatever, but I tried to just stay away right there. I think I was talking to one of their players and he was trying to hold me back, but I wasn't trying to get hurt."
