Green Bay Packers Turn to Former Badger for Offensive Line Help

The Green Bay Packers are in a difficult way right now. They're sitting at 1-2, last in the NFC North, and just suffered an embarrassing loss against the then-winless Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football. Now, they're trying to retool their offensive line in the middle of the season, which is never an easy feat.

The Packers signed 36-year-old guard Kevin Zeitler, bringing him back home to Wisconsin, where he was born in Waukesha, per ProFootballTalk. Zeitler played college football at Wisconsin from 2008 - 2011, and was selected with the 27th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Zeitler has played for six NFL teams, most recently the Tennessee Titans last year.

Kevin Zeitler Brings Experience to a Unit Lacking It:

Zeitler has started 213 games for the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Titans, a massive amount of experience, which might help Packers quarterback Jordan Love. In three games, Love is completing an abysmal 52% of his passes. He's also been sacked eight times and fumbled four time, which suggests duress and discomfort on his part.

It's the second significant offensive live move the Packers have made since they lost to the Falcons. The team also signed Mekhi Becton, a former first round pick with the New York Jets, in the 2020 NFL Draft, to their practice squad, as well as Laken Tomlinson, another former first round pick.

Take it from a lifelong Bears fan: a bad offensive line ruins everything. It hinders the running game, it puts your quarterback under duress, and constant problems on offense forces your defense on the field for longer stretches. Factor in the Packers blowing the Wild Card playoff game against the rival Bears to end their season last year, and fan discontentment is real in Green Bay. Fans booed the team at home midway through the Falcons game last Thursday.

Find out more about former Wisconsin Badger Kevin Zeitler signing with the Green Bay Packers on ProFootballTalk's website.