After five games in the 2024 season, running back Josh Jacobs looked to be well on his way to being named one of the best free agent acquisitions in Green Bay Packers' history. In the absence of Jordan Love for two games, Jacobs helped take the pressure off of Malik Willis en route to a 2-0 record. Despite a lack of a threatening passing game early in the season, Jacobs still made his mark on offense to save the squad from being easily halted. Moving forward to 2025, it's the passing game that needs to compensate for the lack of a threatening running game early in the season.

This isn't necessarily Josh Jacobs' fault, but rather a lack of consistency on the offensive line. Injuries have caused shuffling all along the Packers' front five, and therefore have contributed to a lack of running lanes for the Pro Bowl running back. There have been a few glimpses of hope here and there, but it wasn't until Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals that things seemed to click on the ground all game long.

What was the noticeable change? Well, for one, the Packers finally had all their preferred starters along the offensive line in place. The second most noticeable change would be the move of Jordan Morgan to right guard, playing 82% of the offensive snaps at that position over Sean Rhyan. 

Since the start of OTAs, it's seemed like Morgan has lined up at every spot along the offensive line except center. A first-round pick on the offensive line still not having a home entering year two is a bit frustrating for the fanbase to see, but it's also a testament to Morgan's versatility and the confidence the team had in him to put him anywhere. The reason for his movement was often due to injuries affecting his fellow linemen's ability to be on the field. But now with everyone available, Morgan received his shot at the right guard position for the majority of week 6's snaps, and you could say he never looked back. 

Josh Jacobs ran for 93 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns, and Morgan was instrumental on both scoring plays. The first, late in the second quarter, shows Jordan Morgan push former Packers' run stuffer, TJ Slaton, two yards into the end zone from three yards out, allowing Jacobs to slip right behind him for six. For those that may have forgotten, Slaton, in a Packers' uniform last year, led the league in run stop win rate amongst interior defensive linemen. Taking care of business like Morgan did in that situation against a lineman like Slaton is no easy feat. The second touchdown run showed Morgan demonstrating excellent patience coming off a double team to engage the linebacker right before Jacobs came in and slipped behind Morgan again for the touchdown. 

We may have our permanent right guard and answer to running game woes. 

Consistency Will Bring Success

From 2001 to 2004, the Packers had the same starting five offensive linemen. Barring injuries here and there, as a unit, that offensive line protected Brett Favre and paved the way for Ahman Green to become one of the best Packers' running backs of all time. Consistency and chemistry are keys to success along the offensive front. Those five linemen, Clifton, Rivera, Flanagan, Wahle, and Tauscher, always knew what the lineman next to them would do and could trust one another, which made them such a successful unit. 

It's very difficult to keep the same starting five in today's NFL year to year, but finding that consistency and chemistry in just a span of one year can make all the difference. Jordan Morgan has shown that he works very well with Zach Tom and Elgton Jenkins, and he's shown chemistry with each of them in the small amount of snaps they've had so far. Better than we've seen with Morgan elsewhere.

In the same position, Sean Rhyan has been very inconsistent this season. This year, he may be better suited as the first man up in the event of an injury along the interior offensive line, relinquishing starting duties to Jordan Morgan. What also could push this decision in favor of Morgan is Sean Rhyan being in a contract year. Solidifying Morgan at the position would make allowing Sean Rhyan to walk a much easier decision. 

Jordan Morgan will not be perfect in every facet. But if his presence can spark the Packers' running game into becoming a greater consistent threat, then the move to place him at right guard permanently needs to be made.