GREEN BAY – As the Packers' locker room opened Sunday evening, the inflowing media quickly encircled Josh Jacobs following Green Bay's dominant 38-10 win over San Francisco.
The All-Pro running back was the belle of the ball after a 106-yard, three-touchdown day that made Jacobs the first player to rush for more than 100 yards in a regular-season game against the 49ers since 2021.
Jacobs had an obvious hand in that achievement, with NFL Next Gen Stats charting him for 15 forced missed tackles. But before breaking down his performance, the 26-year-old running back made sure to pay homage to the men blocking in front of him.
"Man, the O-line, I give them all the credit," Jacobs said. "I tell 'em all the time, they make my job easy."
The Packers' offensive line has been the silent partner in the team's success this year, as Green Bay's quarterbacks have been sacked just 15 times (second fewest in the NFL) while the run offense ranks third in the league (151.6 yards per game).
It's an entirely homegrown bunch, which has become a bit of a rarity in the NFL. Through 12 weeks, Green Bay is the only team that's started five of its own draft picks on the O-line in every game this season.
A testament to the team's ability to draft and develop prospects up front, the Packers also are the only team listing three offensive linemen from the same draft class as starters: left tackle Rasheed Walker, right tackle Zach Tom and right guard Sean Rhyan, all of whom were selected during the final two days of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Having started the same five offensive line in 10 of 11 games this season, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich was asked on Tuesday where that cohesion and chemistry shows up.
"In the run game, things like that where guys can just play next to each other," Stenavich replied. "I think just having those guys get reps next to each other, the communication, just all being on the same page, is something that people take for granted for sure."
Two-time Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins and fourth-year center Josh Myers have been staples for years now, but Rhyan, Walker and Tom have solidified the offensive line over the past 12 months.
Each lineman has taken a different route to the field, with Tom being the first to crack the lineup as a rookie fourth-round pick before winning the starting right tackle job last year.
Both Walker and Rhyan were virtual redshirts as rookies before the two began rotating into the starting lineup last year. A former seventh-round pick, Walker has developed into a dependable left tackle responsible for blocking the blindside of franchise quarterback Jordan Love.
Among passers with at least 200 pass attempts, only New Orleans' Derek Carr (seven) has been sacked fewer times than Love (10). While everyone has a part to play up front, Love's bookends at tackle have more than held their own.
"They're going against some of the best edge rushers in the NFL, and they've been doing a phenomenal job," said Love of Walker and Tom. "They're going out there and just executing, giving me enough time to get the ball off. They've been doing a great job. I can't say enough good things about them."
On the interior, Rhyan has made a successful transition from a three-year starting left tackle at UCLA to a right guard in Green Bay.
Like the end of last season when he rotated with Jon Runyan, Rhyan started 2024 in platoon with rookie first-round pick Jordan Morgan during the early portion of the campaign.
More recently, the 6-foot-5, 321-pound Rhyan has shifted into an every-down role due to Myers missing one game with a wrist injury and Morgan landing on injured reserve with a recurring shoulder issue.
With Rhyan getting more playing time, Green Bay's coaching staff has been pleased with the maturation and development seen from the former third-round pick.
"I love Sean. He's going to give everything he's got," offensive line coach Luke Butkus said. "He is a strong son of a gun, now. When he puts his hands on you, he's punched me a few times, and I've definitely felt it. So, I'm happy for him, and I want him to continue to push himself to get better every day."
Since the turn of the century, few teams have been better at identifying and developing talent on the offensive line than Green Bay. Yet, there are only a handful of instances where the Packers have drafted three O-linemen and seen them all graduate into starting roles.
Green Bay's 1996 draft produced three who started at least 10 games for the team: Pro Bowl guard Marco Rivera (111 starts), center Mike Flanagan (64) and John Michels (14). A decade later, the Packers unearthed another trio under the same parameters: Daryn Colledge (76 starts), Jason Spitz (45) and Tony Moll (18).
Having learned the ropes together in Green Bay, Rhyan has enjoyed getting to work with his 2022 draft classmates.
"It's great, man," Rhyan said. "Coming in with them, going through all the same (stuff) – camp, all those rookie meetings, all the same kind of growing pains. Zach got in there, Sheed got in there and I got in there. It's cool because it doesn't happen often."
The Packers face a stiff test on Thursday night when it hosts the Miami Dolphins for a Thanksgiving matchup at Lambeau Field, but there's plenty to like about the way things are trending for Green Bay up front.
"There's been a lot of great moments," said Head Coach Matt LaFleur of his offensive line. "I think they've been battling. I think we've gotten better in terms of playing with better pad level and more physicality. That's something that we've definitely been stressing and working on.
"It always starts, whether you're offensive linemen, quarterback, receiver, defensive back, it all starts with your fundamentals. So, that's something we've definitely been harping on."
