Jordan Morgan’s first genuine look as the Green Bay Packers’ starting left tackle did little to quiet the questions that have followed him since he was drafted.
Against Minnesota in Week 1, the former first-round pick allowed five pressures and finished 58th among 65 qualified tackles, a showing that put him squarely in the spotlight as the offensive line as a whole struggled.
Much of the early-season conversation has centered on the interior, where the Packers made unexpected choices at both guard spots.
Those decisions have drawn heavier scrutiny, yet they have also given Morgan some cover. The tape from his left-tackle debut, however, made it harder to look past his own issues.
On that note, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has identified Morgan as the Packer who most needed to respond in Week 2.
“Morgan was already under a fair amount of pressure when the season began, as he’s being asked to replace former starter Rasheed Walker,” Knox wrote. “Entering Week 2, he’ll be under immense pressure to prove that he’s up to the challenge of starting on the left side.”
Those doubts did not appear overnight. Morgan was selected 25th overall in part because evaluators could not agree whether he projected better at tackle or guard.
In two seasons, he has started only one prior game at left tackle, a Week 18 contest in which the Packers rested their regulars.
The bulk of his work has come inside: hundreds of snaps at both guard spots and just 51 at left tackle. Last year he started 13 games across four different positions, showing versatility but not a settled identity at the edge.
The Packers still see a path forward. Morgan has already proven he can start at guard, and the organization believes the same athletic traits that made him a first-round talent can translate once he gains more experience on the left side. Zach Tom’s counterpart on the right, recovering from an injury that ended his 2025 season, is also expected to shake off rust.
The interior experiments—Donovan Jennings over Jager Burton on the left and Jacob Monk over Anthony Belton on the right—remain the more immediately second-guessed calls.
Those choices may have altered the outcome against Minnesota; Morgan’s performance, while poor, is viewed as more correctable with time.
Still, the margin for error is thin. A first-round investment asked to replace a veteran starter cannot afford another outing like Week 1.
The next few games will show whether Morgan can grow into the role or whether the Packers will have to revisit their plan on the left edge.
Be the first to comment