The Green Bay Packers took a hit to their offensive line depth today, announcing that rookie offensive lineman Jordan Morgan has been placed on injured reserve. Filling Morgan’s spot on the 53-man active roster is practice squad cornerback Robert Rochell.

Morgan, a first-round pick from Arizona, hasn’t locked down a starting role in his rookie season but has seen plenty of action. With four of last year’s offensive line starters returning, the main competition during the offseason was for the right guard spot. There was also speculation that Morgan, with his first-round talent, could potentially challenge for the left tackle position.

However, Morgan faced setbacks early on due to a shoulder injury that caused him to miss critical training camp reps. This injury allowed Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom to solidify their positions at left and right tackle, while Elgton Jenkins and Josh Myers locked in their starting roles at left guard and center. At right guard, Sean Rhyan, a third-round pick from UCLA, emerged as the starter. Although Rhyan hadn’t yet lived up to his draft expectations, Morgan’s injury provided him the opportunity to claim the role.

Throughout the season, the Packers rotated Morgan in at right guard whenever he was healthy. Rhyan has started all nine games so far, but Morgan’s presence provided valuable depth. Unfortunately, Morgan’s shoulder issues lingered, forcing him to miss three consecutive games earlier in the season.

Last week, Morgan finally got his first career start at left guard when Myers was sidelined with a wrist injury. Jenkins moved over to center to cover for Myers, giving Morgan his chance. He played the entire game, but the team must have noticed lingering concerns with his shoulder. After limited practice participation this week, the Packers decided Morgan needed time on injured reserve to recover fully.

With Morgan now sidelined for at least four games, the Packers face some tough decisions if Myers isn’t ready to return soon. They could turn to rookie Jacob Monk, a fifth-round pick from Duke who has only played on special teams so far. Another option would be moving Jenkins back to center and using one of their backup tackles — Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort, or Travis Glover — at left guard.

Meanwhile, Robert Rochell, who takes Morgan’s spot on the roster, has already seen action in four games this season. Initially called up from the practice squad under the standard elevation rules, Rochell reached his three-game limit before being signed to the active roster for one game. He was later released and re-signed to the practice squad. Now, with Morgan’s injury, Rochell is officially back on the active roster.

The Packers will need to rely on their depth and flexibility across the offensive line as they navigate Morgan’s absence. While the rookie’s development has been slowed by his injury, Green Bay’s ability to adapt will be crucial in the weeks ahead.