Green Bay burned through two centers before the first quarter was even over. Sources told insider Ian Rapoport that Green Bay Packers starting center Sean Rhyan likely has a high-ankle sprain. Head coach Matt LaFleur doesn’t expect Rhyan or backup Jacob Monk to face the Carolina Panthers in Week 8.
X-Rays were negative, and he has an MRI today. But high-ankle sprains are often 4-6 week injuries.” Rhyan went down on the opening possession when running back Josh Jacobs tumbled into him from behind. He never returned in Detroit’s 20-17 Week 7 win.
Monk replaced him and soon hurt his quad, possibly aggravating an injury that cost him multiple games over the past month. That pushed John Williams, the Packers’ seventh-round choice in 2025, to center. Williams, a left tackle in college, sat out his entire rookie year injured.
He handled the final 58 snaps and allowed three pressures. Losing both centers so quickly unnerved LaFleur, though he had nothing but praise for the fill-in. To lose two guys at center that quickly in the game was a little terrifying, but I thought he did a really good job,” LaFleur said.
Jager Burton, a fifth-round rookie from Kentucky, was drafted as a natural center. He has played left guard on every one of his 89 regular-season snaps, though he logged 23 at center during the preseason. Donovan Jennings has 24 preseason snaps at center, but the staff has made him a healthy scratch in recent weeks.
With Carolina arriving at Lambeau Field on a quick turnaround, the starting job likely falls to Williams, who has live reps, or Burton, who logged those 23 preseason snaps at center.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
