Latest news with #positionchange
Al Arabiya
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Packers' Elgton Jenkins says he's OK with his position switch and believes he can thrive at center
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Elgton Jenkins says he doesn't expect the Green Bay Packers to alter his contract before the season to reflect his position switch, while adding that he's fine with the move from guard to center. 'Right now it's just (about) being the best player I can be, being the best teammate,' Jenkins said Monday. 'Like I said, man, I know what I'm going to do this season. I'm confident in my ability, very confident in it. So just going out there playing ball, keep doing what I've been doing, and it's going to take care of itself.' Jenkins, a two-time Pro Bowl guard, is moving to center after the Packers signed former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Aaron Banks to fill his old spot at left guard. Jenkins will take over for Josh Myers, who was Green Bay's starting center for the past three seasons before signing with the New York Jets in March. The 29-year-old Jenkins practiced on a limited basis Monday for the first time after dealing with a back issue the first few days of training camp. Jenkins said he had hurt his back while lifting weights earlier in the offseason. The back issue also had prevented Jenkins from participating in Green Bay's mandatory minicamp last month, though he was present for it. Jenkins did skip the Packers' organized team activities this offseason, but he said Monday that was because of family concerns rather than any issues over changing positions. 'I'm having changes in my family right now, so I wanted to spend more time with them,' Jenkins said. 'And it so happened that came up, so it was just like it was better for me to spend time with my family this offseason.' Jenkins said he had expressed a willingness to move when general manager Brian Gutekunst asked him about the possibility of switching positions. 'When he asked me the first time, I was like, 'Yeah, let me think on it,'' Jenkins said. 'I thought about it for a little while, and he called again, and I was like, 'Yeah, I'll do it.'' Jenkins acknowledged his representatives had spoken with Packers officials about how the position switch could impact his future earnings. Jennings has two years remaining on the four-year, $68 million contract extension he signed in December 2022. 'They had a conversation, and obviously the conversation was going on for a long period of time, but right now, where we're at is focusing on the being the best player I can be,' Jenkins said. 'Been playing this game for 20-some years, seven years in the league. I'm very confident in my ability and what I can do. The financial side, I know that's going to come. Right now, it's just how can we build chemistry within the O-line to get better and as an offense.' The Packers and Jenkins have reason to believe he can thrive as a center. Jenkins was at center for 26 of his 34 career starts during his college career at Mississippi State. While the 2019 second-round pick has primarily played left guard in the NFL, he also has started four games at center, eight at left tackle, and six at right tackle. His most recent start at center came in a 24-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Nov. 3 of last season when Myers was out with a wrist injury. 'I feel like the sky's the limit, honestly,' Jenkins said. 'I can be an All-Pro, Pro Bowl, same guy–probably even better, honestly. We're just going to see.'
Reuters
5 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Packers move Bo Melton from WR to CB for training camp
July 23 - The Green Bay Packers are shifting Bo Melton from wide receiver to cornerback during training camp to see what he can do in the defensive secondary. Melton, 26, made eight receptions on 17 targets for 91 yards in 17 games as a second-year reserve last season, and has 24 career catches for 309 yards and one score in 22 games (one start). He has also caught three passes for 42 yards and one touchdown in three career playoff games. "Bo is going to spend most of his time at corner," Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at a press conference on Wednesday. "We know what he can do for us as a receiver and on special teams. He's been an important part of our football team the last couple of years. We're excited to see what he might be able to do at corner on defense. "I think we switched his number to 16 because that looks a little bit better than the 80 he was running out there at camp," Gutekunst continued. "He'll spend most of his time, especially these first three or four weeks, at corner." Melton also is a gunner on special teams, and the team began to try him at cornerback during the offseason workout program. The Seattle Seahawks selected Melton in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Rutgers, where he played 56 games at receiver and had 164 catches for 2,011 yards and 11 touchdowns from 2017-21. His brother, Max Melton, 23, was a cornerback at Rutgers who plays for the Arizona Cardinals. "When (the change) was brought to my attention, I started working a little more, working with some DB trainers, and I feel like I'm good with the movements," Bo Melton said. "I just have to keep indulging in the playbook." Melton leaves a crowded wide receivers room headed by veterans Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, the latter of whom is recovering from an ACL tear. The Packers went against their history and selected a wide receiver in the first round, speedster Matthew Golden, as well as third-round pick Savion Williams. Green Bay also signed seventh-year pro Mecole Hardman, 27, a three-time Super Bowl champion with Kansas City (2019, 2022-23). Among the veteran cornerbacks on the Packers are Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Nate Hobbs. Green Bay released two-time All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander on June 9 amid a contentious relationship between the two parties. The Packers were seeking to restructure his contract, frustrated over his lack of availability. Alexander, 28, appeared in just 14 games over the past two seasons combined. Alexander signed with the Baltimore Ravens on June 18. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rafael Devers makes 1B debut for Giants after declining to play position for Red Sox
After declining to do so for the Boston Red Sox, Rafael Devers has put on his glove to play first base for the San Francisco Giants. The Giants announced Tuesday that Devers would start at first base Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves. The game marks the first time in his career that Devers has played the position. And it's the first time this season that he's played in the field at any position after a contentious dispute with the Red Sox over where he would play. A three-time All-Star slugger, Devers played eight-plus seasons with the Red Sox, primarily as their third baseman. His relationship with the Red Sox deteriorated this season over a conflict about where he would — or ultimately wouldn't — play in the field for Boston. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Dispute over position landed Devers in SF Boston signed two-time Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman in the offseason, a move that ultimately put the Red Sox in a precarious position. Bregman was the no-brainer choice to play third base for Boston instead of Devers, who is statistically one of the worst third basemen in baseball. Devers was also the most veteran Red Sox presence in Boston's clubhouse and the only remaining player on the roster from Boston's 2018 World Series championship team. And he didn't want to give up his position. Devers said in spring training that he was not open to moving to designated hitter to make way for Bregman on the field. But Bregman started the season at third base, and Devers moved to designated hitter, against his wishes. Then the Red Sox lost first baseman Triston Casas to injury for the rest of the season. Devers told reporters that the Red Sox asked him to take over at first base, and he refused, with the following explanation: 'They came to me and talked to me about it,' Devers told reporters on May 8 of the request to play first. 'I know I'm a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play every single position out there. "In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove. I wasn't going to play another position other than DH. Right now, I don't think it would be an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position.' Devers remained at designated hitter and played all 73 of his games for Boston this season at the position. The dispute ultimately compelled the Red Sox to trade Devers to the Giants in June. Devers has since played designated hitter for the Giants. But San Francisco made the move on Monday to try him out in the field. Wilmer Flores and Dominic Smith had previously split time at first base for the Giants this season. On Monday, Smith was not in the lineup, and Flores was batting sixth, taking Devers' usual place as San Francisco's designated hitter.
