The Green Bay Packers already have one of the best and most productive offenses in the NFL. They are fourth in DVOA and eighth in EPA/play. Over the next few weeks, though, the unit can get even more dangerous with the return of some good young pieces.
Jordan Morgan
The first-round rookie has handled a shoulder injury throughout the season. Now, after missing the last four games on injured reserve, he is already eligible to return to the active roster. The Packers have not shared a specific timeline, but there’s a good chance Morgan will return sooner rather than later.
Morgan’s return is particularly important because there’s not much depth behind him. Outside of the first-rounder, fifth-round center Jacob Monk is the only backup interior offensive linemen, and he’s been inactive for most of the season.
Last Thursday, Sean Rhyan missed some snaps, and the Packers had to put backup tackle Kadeem Telfort in at right guard — Telfort was solid in run blocking, but allowed one pressure in four pass block snaps.
Josh Myers has also regressed again after a solid start of the season. With Morgan returning, that could open the option for the Packers to move Elgton Jenkins or Sean Rhyan to center, putting the rookie on the lineup and Myers on the bench.
Luke Musgrave
The second-year tight end suffered a serious ankle injury in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings. He was active against the Los Angeles Rams in the following week, but didn’t play, and later the Packers found out the issue was more severe than initially expected.
Musgrave has been on IR for eight games now, and the injury happened more than two months ago. The Packers have said they expect him back this regular season, but the clock is ticking for that to happen.
Tucker Kraft has established himself as one of the best and most useful tight ends in football, so Musgrave’s absence hasn’t been as felt as it was last year. But he is still a unique weapon in the passing game.
MarShawn Lloyd
The third-round rookie running back barely played this year. He suffered an ankle sprain in Week 2 and missed seven games. He was designated to return from IR after the bye, but then had appendicitis, which forced the Packers to activate him and then place him on the non-football illness list. That move allows Green Bay to still activate him again later in the season.
Llyod missed the Chicago Bears game while still on the active roster and was placed on the NFI-list on November 20. It’s been three games since that, so the rookie will still be out against the Seattle Seahawks.
After that, if he is fully healthy, MarShawn Lloyd can return for the games against the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears to close out the regular season.