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PackersNews.com - Notebook: Jenkins impressive in preseason opener

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PITTSBURGH — Cullen Jenkins’ contract extension this offseason is starting to look like money well spent.

The Green Bay Packers’ defensive lineman, who received a four-year, $16 million deal in February, started the preseason with a flurry.

The fourth-year pro easily was the most impressive of any starter — either on offense or defense — during Saturday’s preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. In a continuation of what has been a strong training camp, the 6-foot-2, 303-pounder made three big plays, including a pair of sacks, during the limited playing time the No. 1 defense received.

The Steelers started their first possession at the Packers’ 41-yard line thanks to a poor punt by Jon Ryan, but Jenkins bailed him out. On third-and-5 from the 36, Jenkins beat left tackle Marvel Smith and sacked Ben Roethlisberger. In the process, he forced the Steelers’ quarterback to fumble, which Jenkins also recovered.

“I was trying to turn the corner, and it wasn’t working too well,” Jenkins said in quotes distributed by the team during the third quarter. “I saw him getting ready to throw, so I just tried to time it up and hit the ball when he pulled it back.”

On the next series, Jenkins blew up the blocking on a third-and-1 play from the Steelers’ 38-yard line, and it freed linebacker A.J. Hawk to stop running back Najeh Davenport, the former Packers’ backup, for no gain.

Jenkins recorded his second sack shortly before Packers coach Mike McCarthy pulled the plug on the starters following their fourth series. On this one, Jenkins beat Max Starks, who came on in relief of Smith at left tackle, and dumped backup quarterback Charlie Batch for an 8-yard loss.

“We had some pretty good pressure from the D-line,” Jenkins said. “Our goal this year is to be the best defensive line and the best defense in the league. We want to try to carry this team with our play, so we’re just trying to get off to a good start.”

Both of Jenkins’ sacks came with him lined up at the right defensive end spot, where he has replaced Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila as a starter in the base defense.

Jenkins moved inside to his old defensive tackle spot when defensive coordinator Bob Sanders went to his nickel package.

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