Cornerback Robert Rochell was brought up from the practice squad
The Green Bay Packers will be without offensive lineman Jordan Morgan for at least the next four weeks as they announced on Saturday that the 2024 first-round pick has been placed on the injured reserve. Morgan previously missed action with a shoulder injury, which he wasn’t on the injury report for to start the week, but later reaggravated during this week of practice according to head coach Matt LaFleur.
The Packers already had an open roster spot on their 53-man roster, so there was no rush to put Morgan on the injured reserve. Green Bay also announced on Saturday that cornerback Robert Rochell would be activated from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. The team still has one available spot on their active roster open following the trade of defensive end Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That roster spot will presumably go to running back MarShawn Lloyd, whose practice window to return from the injured reserve opened up this week before being diagnosed with appendicitis.
Without Morgan, the Packers’ offensive line situation is relatively thin. Morgan has been the team’s next man up on the interior offensive line this season, even rotating with starter Sean Rhyan at right guard when the line is fully healthy. As of now, rookie fifth-round pick Jacob Monk will likely fill in as the primary backup center and guard for the team. Andre Dillard and Kadeem Telfort will serve as the team’s backup tackles, but neither has much history on the interior offensive line. If the Packers ever sustain multiple injuries to their interior, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Monk come off the bench while right tackle Zach Tom kicks inside, due to the team’s limited depth at the position.
Earlier this year, the New England Patriots plucked guard Lecitus Smith from the Packers’ practice squad. Without Smith, Green Bay’s current practice squad offensive linemen are Donovan Jennings, an undrafted rookie who missed some time with an injury in the preseason, and 6’6” tackle Spencer Rolland, a former Harvard lineman who was added to the team in Week 7.
Because of the promotion of Rochell, the Packers also have an open roster spot on their practice squad. Look for the team to address that by the end of the day on Tuesday, when they generally bring in free agents for workouts. The fact that Rochell was promoted might be a tell on whether or not fellow cornerback Jaire Alexander is going to be able to suit up against the Chicago Bears, too. Alexander and safety Evan Williams are both listed as questionable by the team going into Sunday.
Suppose Alexander and Williams don’t suit up. In that case, cornerback Keisean Nixon will likely play the slot, moving Javon Bullard to the full-time safety position, with Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine playing outside cornerback in nickel looks. In that scenario, the Packers would have only had one cornerback on the bench, Corey Ballentine, before the addition of Rochell.