Green Bay Packers first-round pick Jordan Morgan re-injured the same shoulder he first hurt in training camp, and coach Matt LaFleur isn’t able to provide a clear return timeline for the rookie offensive lineman.
Morgan missed all three practices this week after suffering the re-injury during the first half of last Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts.
How long will Morgan be out?
“We’ll see. Time will tell,” LaFleur said Friday. “He certainly will be out (Sunday).”
The Packers ruled out Morgan for Sunday against the Tennessee Titans on the final injury report released Friday.
Morgan first injured his shoulder in August and missed three weeks, including all three preseason games. He entered the 2024 regular season in a rotation with Sean Rhyan at right guard and has played 48 total snaps on offense, including 28 in the season opener in Brazil and 20 before suffering the injury last Sunday.
Morgan’s absence will open the door for Rhyan to become a full-time player at right guard. It also complicates the backup situations at several positions. Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort and rookies Jacob Monk and Travis Glover are the other four backup offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, and Monk — a fifth-round pick out of Duke — is most likely the top backup at guard.
Maybe most importantly, an injury for a young player presents concerns over missing time — in terms of both practice reps and on-field snaps — and any resulting stunted development, especially considering Morgan is learning a new position as a first-year player.
As of Friday, the Packers haven’t placed Morgan on injured reserve. It’s possible that move could come Saturday. If put on injured reserve, Morgan would have to miss at least four games before being eligible to return.