The offensive line is the Green Bay Packers’ unexpected Achilles’ heel in 2025, as the team, a stable anchor for more than a decade, endured a rough season.
The addition of new faces to the lineup — whether it’s highly-paid veterans like Aaron Banks or inexperienced players like Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton — and a constant game of musical chairs (mostly caused by injuries) have resulted in the O-line struggling this year.
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The problem for Green Bay is that they can’t close the door when they hold on to a lead late in games, especially in their playoff loss to Chicago.
After offseason changes, with Rasheed Walker and Elgton Jenkins moving on and Jag Burton added via the draft heading into 2026, the offensive line’s role appears to be more clear.
Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich discussed the O-line in detail when he met with the media on Monday and confirmed some doubts about what this year’s starting five is expected to look like.
Morgan is expected to move to left tackle, a position he played in college and a position where he excelled as a backup in late 2025 after spending his first two years at linebacker in the NFL.
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“I’m excited for him to be there,” Sternavich said of the left tackle. “When we brought him in last year, I thought he showed the ability to be a good left tackle in this league.”
“Last year, Rasheed (Walker) missed some time in the preseason, so we moved Jordan over to left tackle, and he did a great job. He played against some really good defensive linemen on the Colts in the preseason, and I saw him play and I was like, ‘Yeah, he’s ready.'”
“Last year we had to use him at other positions because it was what was best for the team, but this year I’m excited for him and what he’s going to do.”
Based on what we’ve heard from Sternavich and head coach Matt LaFleur, it sounds a lot like Morgan beat out Walker at left tackle last year but had to be moved due to injury and Walker was more of a single-position player.
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Now entering the new season, knowing he will be the left tackle and with two years of NFL experience under his belt, it’s make-or-break time.
Sean Ryan took on a new role in 2025, replacing Jenkins at center, and earned a long-term contract extension for his outstanding performance. Sternavich praised Ryan’s ability to fill the role during the season.
“When we lost Elgton (Jenkins), he stepped up and took control,” he said. “There were definitely mistakes, but as we progressed throughout the season and he kept getting better and better, I think this is probably his best position.”
After playing both guard spots in his four years with the team but never truly settling into a starting role, it appears Ryan may have finally found his home.
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Outlets like PFF don’t think highly of Ryan’s performance at the pivot position, but with a full offseason to prepare to play there and nine games at the position, the Packers are banking on him continuing to develop in his age-26 season, and it would be a real boost if he can take that step.
Green Bay did add a potential high-end backup at center, possibly even a long-term successor to Jager Burton, whom they selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He had some impressive tape, measurements and athletic testing and seemed to impress Sternavich.
When talking about Burton, he said: “He’s very athletic and it’s a cool thing to watch him play. He has a lot of good qualities to be a center in the NFL. He’s a very strong kid, he plays with power and has good fundamentals, so I’m excited about him.”
“He has a lot of really good qualities that you look for in an NFL offensive lineman.”
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Sternavich confirmed Burton will play center and guard in training camp, but admitted center may be his best position right now. Green Bay likes to cross-train their offensive linemen to give them options in the event of injury, and it sounds like that philosophy will continue.
Anthony Belton entered the field as a rookie after being drafted in the second round, playing primarily guard, a position he never played in college. While his play was a little inconsistent and not without mental errors, he showed the strength and tools that drew him to the Packers.
Expected to be the starting right guard in 2026, Sternavich believes being able to focus on the inside game will be beneficial to Belton.
“We were just playing him at tackle, and then all of a sudden we lost a bunch of guys and it was like, ‘Hey man, you gotta go in and play guard,'” Sternavich said. “He came out against Detroit and that was really his first week playing guard for us.”
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“To his credit he went out and did that and played pretty well. But I think now, just focusing on the little fundamentals, the little details, we can teach him all those things from a guard standpoint. I think it’s going to be very good for him and his development.”
He said that while Belton will primarily focus on linebacker, the Packers will continue to use him and other players at tackle just to get them familiar with that in case they are needed there.
Injuries were a big part of Green Bay’s issues last year, with Zach Tom, Aaron Banks and Elgton Jenkins either missing significant games, playing injured, or both. Players getting healthy and reducing uncertainty about who will play where should help a lot.
When asked about making the roster more solid in 2026, Sternavich said: “There’s no doubt it’s going to be a huge thing, getting these guys playing together at these positions, but you always have to be prepared for the unknown. If that guy goes out, the next guy has to step up.”
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On what the Packers need to do better this year, he said: “Our execution. I think our execution is definitely inconsistent and I just want to see us play with such physicality and toughness that really defines every game we play as a Packers offensive linemen.”
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers OC says Jordan Morgan ‘ready’ to play left tackle, clarifies role
