The Green Bay Packers are enjoying a mini-bye after last Thursday’s Thanksgiving victory over the Detroit Lions, which makes this an ideal time to assess how their rookie class has fared in the last few weeks.

There has been one big change on offense in terms of usage, while two other rookies have been fighting injuries of late.

Here’s how Green Bay’s first-year players on the offensive side of the ball have been coming along:

RG Anthony Belton

Belton worked his way into a right guard competition with Jordan Morgan against the Minnesota Vikings, and seemed to quickly win it, starting the whole second half and then the entire Lions game last week.

He faced some respected veteran linemen in those two games, and while Matt LaFleur praised the physical presence he has brought to the O-line, the results have been mixed at best.

Starting with the positives in pass pro, Belton has shown the nimble feet which attracted the Packers to him and are rare for a big guy. Those have helped him survive when going into recovery mode, which is an important asset for an offensive lineman, especially a rookie.

He has been able to adjust to oversetting and move his feet quickly enough to cut off an opponent’s inside move and prevent any danger, as well as picking up stunts. Belton has good bounce in his feet and that allows him to anchor effectively if (and it’s a big if) his technique is right.

His strength is very useful as it allows him to hang in there when he is put in a compromised position. Even when chest to chest with an opponent, Belton has the power to push them towards other bodies and keep them away from his quarterback.

Belton is effective at “dying slowly,” continuing to hand fight or keep his big frame in front of a defender long enough to buy his QB enough time to get rid of the ball. When facing lighter pass rushers, his strength is a real advantage, as he can handle them easily.

Versus Minnesota, he recognized a blitzing linebacker and picked him up along with Chris Brooks to stop him in his tracks, before shoving him out of the way.

On the negative side of the ledger, Belton’s technique is a real work in progress at the moment. Too often his initial punch is completely missing, being easily swatted away, or not having much of an impact if it does land.

This is allowing defenders to get into his chest, and that is not allowing him to use his power. There are plays where a defensive lineman will get his hands into Belton’s chest and just walk him back in Love’s lap.

In the run game, there are plays to build on, including times where he is able to quickly get to his target, turn and wall them out of the play, or get half a gap over and push a defender out the way to clear a run lane.

On an outside run versus the Lions, he did well to get himself between his opponent and the ball and stay there, and he has also pull blocked effectively, landing firm hits on backside defenders.

Belton’s demeanor is an asset for this offensive line, and he does bring a physical edge. He is always looking for more players to block in an effort to gouge open run lanes and has the intent and urgency to go hit someone when he gets up to the second level.

Against the Lions, he helped spring an explosive run by getting up to the second level and clearing out a linebacker, and he can also wipe them out by crashing down the line of scrimmage if he has a clear path to them.

If he has no clear assignment in pass pro, he looks for work and chips nearby defenders engaged with his teammates. The rookie also helped get some push at the goal line in the Vikings game as Emanuel Wilson plunged in for his second touchdown.

However, his biggest issue in run blocking right now is that he is constantly leaning and playing over his toes. Belton is lunging at opponents too much, and they use this momentum against him with arm over moves or simply letting him take himself out of the play.

Seeing Belton on the ground has been too regular of an occurrence, and he has to start playing more under control.

At times his aiming points are off, giving defenders the angle to attack the ball carrier, and there are plays where he totally whiffs on a block, allowing the back to be tackled. Despite his ‘want-to’, he does not always latch onto targets at the second level or sustain blocks when he does.

Then there are the classic rookie concentration errors which are to be expected but could hurt the Packers if they do not get cleaned up.

On Love’s fadeaway throw to Dontayvion Wicks on third down in the Vikings game, Belton ended up blocking no one as two free rushers came right up the middle.

Versus Detroit, there was a play where he did have an assignment already, but did not get anything on a free runner up the middle which nearly destroyed a run play.

Belton has allowed pressure in some key spots, which the offense has so far overcome, but could be costly in future.

He gave up significant pressure on a play against the Lions which forced Love to step up and escape, and also gave up a pretty quick pressure on the final fourth down play, which is why Love had to drift back and pull off a more difficult throw to hit Wicks.

All of these issues are correctable, and Belton is just getting his feet wet in the NFL, but there is still plenty of work for him to do to be a reliable presence at right guard.

WR Matthew Golden

It has been a frustrating month for Golden, who has only been able to play in one of the last four games due to shoulder and wrist injuries.

That lone appearance came on the road against the Giants, with the rookie having just one catch on two targets, but it was an explosive play of 24 yards, as Golden made a nice route adjustment, breaking his route off towards the sideline after seeing Love rolling to his left.

LaFleur said Tuesday that Golden could return this week, and there is nothing he is doing specifically when he is on the field to ring any alarm bells in terms of his NFL prospects. There is still a good chance he is an important player for the Packers down the stretch.

WR/KR Savion Williams

Williams’ involvement has been mostly limited to the gadget role he has played for most of the year, but with the rookie wideout nursing a foot injury, he does not look as spry or elusive on those touches and they are not producing much.

The Packers have blocked them up especially well all year, but with him running more gingerly, they are having even less success on those plays.

He had a hugely important catch against the Giants – a game he arrived to in a walking boot – after hauling in a 33-yard pass from Love on a scramble drill.

Williams showed off the contested catch ability he showed in college, but even within this highlight play, there was evidence of his rawness.

His route could have been better initially, as he drifted on a deep comeback or stop route. Then when Love signalled for him to go deep, he beat his defender, but then immediately turned around back to the ball and had to gear up again to retrieve the pass once it was thrown.

That said, it was still an impressive play, especially given the injury he is fighting through, one which ultimately kept him out of Thursday’s game against Detroit.

A week earlier, he could have had a walk-in touchdown after running a corner route from an insert block position. He was wide open and threw up his arm, but Malik Willis had already checked the ball down instead.

Perhaps with other receivers coming back from injury, Williams can be allowed to get fully healthy in the coming weeks.