Packers lose first-round rookie to injured reserve

The Packers’ depth on offensive line has taken a hit. The team announced that offensive lineman Jordan Morgan was placed on injured reserve. Taking Morgan’s spot on the 53-man active roster will be practice squad cornerback Robert Rochell.

Morgan, a first-round rookie out of Arizona, hasn’t been a full-time starter in his first NFL season, but he’s seen the field plenty. With Green Bay returning four of its five starters on the line from last year, only the right guard spot was really open for competition. But there were thoughts that, with his first-round pedigree, Morgan could provide an improvement at left tackle, as well.

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Throughout his first summer with the team, though, Morgan dealt with a shoulder injury, causing him to miss valuable camp time. It became clear that Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom were locked in at the left and right tackle positions, respectively, and Elgton Jenkins and Josh Myers were sure starters at their own respective positions of left guard and center. Sean Rhyan, a third-round pick out of UCLA who had thus far failed to live up to his Day 2 draft stock, took over the starting right guard job as Morgan dealt with his ailment. However, it became clear that if Morgan was going to find the field as a rookie, it would be at guard.

Rhyan has started all nine games of the season for the Packers at right guard, but Green Bay has been splitting time at the position between him and Morgan, whenever Morgan is healthy. Morgan’s shoulder has continued to nag him throughout his rookie campaign, causing him to miss three weeks in a row earlier this year.

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When Myers missed last week with a wrist injury, Jenkins shifted in to the center spot, giving Morgan the first start of his career at left guard. Although he played the full game, something must have become clear with his shoulder injury. After very limited practice this week, the Packers determined that Morgan would require a stint on IR for his shoulder injury.

With Morgan out for at least four games and if Myers is forced to miss any more time due to his wrist, the Packers have a few options. They would need to turn to third-string center and fifth-round rookie out of Duke Jacob Monk, but he has only played on special teams this year. Or they would need to shift Jenkins back in to center and ask one of their backup tackles — Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort or Travis Glover — to fill in at left guard.

Rochell has seen plenty of game time this season, playing in four games so far. Most of his games have been as a standard game-day practice squad elevation. But after he reached the limit of three games off a single practice squad contract, he was signed to the active roster for a game, released, then re-signed to the practice squad.