The Green Bay Packers placed rookie offensive lineman Jordan Morgan on injured reserve on Saturday, meaning the 2024 first-round draft pick will miss at least four more games before he is eligible to return.
It’s unclear whether Morgan will need surgery and his season will be over, or whether his recurring shoulder problem can be resolved within a month while on injured reserve.
Morgan, ranked 25th overall, re-aggravated a shoulder injury he first suffered in training camp. He will miss games against the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions before being placed on injured reserve.
Morgan made one start and appeared in a total of six matches. He played 186 snaps, allowing seven pressures and taking one penalty. In Week 9, he started at left tackle, which was his first NFL start.
The former Arizona offensive guard suffered a shoulder injury in August, costing him a chance to win the starting right guard job. Alternating at right-back with Sean Rhyan, Morgan re-injured his shoulder in week two and missed the next three games.
Coach Matt LaFleur said Morgan suffered a shoulder injury this week in practice.
Without Morgan for at least the next month, the Packers will likely hire Rhyan as their full-time right guard and move rookie Jacob Monk to the primary interior offensive line backup position.
Morgan’s tough first season may be over. Even if he returns, the first-rounder missed a key period of development in both practice and games during his rookie season.
Placing Morgan on injured reserve left two roster spots open. The Packers took advantage of one on Saturday, signing linebacker Robert Rochell from the practice squad.
