The Green Bay Packers placed rookie offensive lineman Jordan Morgan on injured reserve on Saturday, meaning the 2024 first-round pick will miss at least the next four games before he’s eligible to return.
It’s unclear if Morgan needs surgery and his season is over or if the recurring shoulder problem can be corrected over the course of a month on injured reserve.
Morgan, the 25th overall pick, suffered another aggravation of a shoulder injury first suffered in training camp. He will miss games against the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions before he eligible to come off injured reserve.
Morgan made one start and appeared in six total games. He played 186 snaps, allowing seven total pressures and committing one penalty. In Week 9, he started at left guard, his first NFL start.
The former Arizona offensive tackle injured the shoulder in August, costing him a chance to win the starting job at right guard. While rotating in at right guard with Sean Rhyan, Morgan injured the shoulder again in Week 2 and missed the next three games.
Coach Matt LaFleur said Morgan hurt the shoulder in practice this week.
Without Morgan for at least the next month, the Packers will likely employ Rhyan as a full-time player at right guard and move rookie Jacob Monk into the top backup job for the interior offensive line.
A rocky first season for Morgan could be over. Even if he returns, the first-rounder has missed crucial developmental time in both practice and games during his rookie season.
Placing Morgan on injured reserve left open two roster spots. The Packers used one on Saturday, signing cornerback Robert Rochell from the practice squad.
