Jake Hanson

By Ray Hamill — In Jake Hanson’s own words, he should be in good shape by the time the first preseason game rolls around.

The former Eureka Logger is entering his third season with the Green Bay Packers and is getting plenty of reps this preseason at both right guard and center.

With All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari and Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins both still rehabilitating from knee injuries, Hanson has been lining up at right guard for the Packers No. 1 unit, as well as seeing time at center on the No. 2 unit.

And that augurs well for the former Oregon Duck, who appears in line to at least make the 53-man roster for the second straight year and could see a lot more game time this fall.

“Getting 10 two-minute (drill) reps with the starters at (right) guard, and then having to go with the (No.) 2s at center,” Hanson told madison.com this week. “I’m going to be in shape come that first preseason game for sure.”

Hanson was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft after a memorable career playing for the Ducks, where he started 49 games, all at center.

He was also a two-time second-team all-Pac-12 selection.

The 6-foot-4, 296-pound lineman did not make the Packers roster in his first NFL season and was placed on injured reserve while battling a hip injury, for which he had surgery.

After making the team’s 53-man roster last fall, he appeared in five games and had just six garbage time snaps on offense and 13 on special teams.

But his perseverance appears to be paying off and the 2015 Eureka High graduate looks likely to play a much bigger role this fall.

According to packers.com, head coach Matt LaFleur described Hanson as a player who has consistently improved and one who is expected to see action at both center and guard during the preseason.

“I’ll be ready for whatever,” the 25-year-old Hanson told packers.com, adding that “things are moving in the right direction.”

The Packers open the preseason next Friday at 5:30 p.m.