Packers could be forced into an unexpected change up front after Lions loss complicates plans for the Panthers game

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Packers could be forced into an unexpected change up front after Lions loss complicates plans for the Panthers game

Green Bay Packers rookie offensive tackle John Williams is interviewed by the media during rookie minicamp on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers selected Williams with the second of their two seventh round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Wendell Ferreira · AtoZ Sports

Mon, Oct 26, 2026 ·

4 min read

John Williams was the option in a pinch

The Packers had to turn to John Williams at center . He played 58 snaps and was passable, although he gave up three pressures and struggled in pass protection. Context matters here because Williams has primarily taken practice and preseason reps at tackle.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said Williams did get some center reps in practice, but that is far from ideal preparation for this kind of scenario. LaFleur still praised how the young lineman handled the moment.

"He's so intelligent, he's got great command and understands all the calls and why we're doing what we're doing," LaFleur said. "Again, I can't commend him enough for the job he did stepping in in a tough situation."

According to LaFleur, Rhyan isn't expected to be back Thursday, and the team will evaluate his situation on a long-term basis. Because Monk is dealing with a soft tissue injury, it's hard to imagine a scenario where he returns in such a short period. As a consequence, the center options are limited for Green Bay.

Jager Burton is a center by definition

The first option might be Jager Burton. The rookie fifth-round pick from Kentucky is a center by trade, which is essentially why the Packers drafted him in the first place . With Rhyan's contract structure , Burton gave the team flexibility at the position for the future.

So far, though, Burton has played exclusively at guard in the regular season. All 89 of his snaps have come at left guard. In the preseason, however, Burton did play 23 snaps at center, so there is a realistic path to him starting against the Panthers.

The other option is keeping Williams at center. That's a tough ask for the former seventh-round pick, who missed his rookie season due to injury and is finally in position to help the team. Williams is versatile, but he has essentially been a backup tackle for Green Bay. In the preseason, when he was especially good in pass protection, all 93 of his snaps came at left tackle.

The rest of the offensive line

Outside of the center spot, the rest of the line should look familiar. Jordan Morgan is at left tackle and Anthony Belton is at right tackle. At guard, Laken Tomlinson plays on the left side, and Travis Glover could still be on the right side despite his recent struggles.

The remaining offensive linemen on the 53-man roster are all guards: Donovan Jennings, Kevin Zeitler, and Aaron Banks. Of those, Jennings has the most center experience. He had 24 center snaps in the preseason, while his career regular season work includes 88 snaps at left guard and seven at right guard.

Jennings was limited in terms of performance at the start of the season, though. That's why the Packers moved him to the bench, and he has been a healthy scratch over the past few weeks. Putting him at center would mean trusting a player the coaching staff already decided to sit.

A tough decision in just a few days

The most likely outcome is a decision between Williams and Burton for the game against Carolina. Williams has the in-game experience from Sunday and the trust of his head coach. Burton has the natural position and the preseason reps at center.

From there, Green Bay will adjust based on how Rhyan and Monk recover from their injuries ahead of the rest of the season. For a team that has already been searching for answers on the interior, losing both centers in one afternoon adds another layer to a unit that was far from settled.