The Green Bay Packers’ starters will play in the preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, but injuries to the offensive line will impact the front five.
Rookie Jordan Morgan is the projected starter at right guard but misses out on his Packers debut due to a shoulder injury, while right tackle Zach Tom won’t play. He returned to team drills at practice this week, but the Packers don’t want to rush him back into preseason action after recently recovering from a torn pec.
Matt LaFleur will get a good look at the offensive line competition on Saturday, but the Packers won’t have their preferred starters on the right side available.
It puts Jordan Love in the unenviable spot of throwing behind a makeshift starting five that includes a player who probably shouldn’t even make the 53-man roster.
Andre Dillard expected to start at right tackle in Packers preseason opener
Just two days after Love’s injury scare, he will receive pass protection from a right tackle who allowed a league-worst 12 sacks last season.
According to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Andre Dillard replaced Tom in the lineup at Thursday’s practice, a sign he will start against the Browns. Considering the Packers will also miss first-round pick Morgan, this places Love in a less-than-ideal situation.
Dillard hoped for a bounce-back season in Green Bay, but he hasn’t made a great start.
“Among players who were expected to compete for a role, there might not be anyone who’s had a more difficult start to camp,” SI’s Jacob Westendorf wrote after the first week. “Almost every edge rusher who’s lined up against him has been credited with a sack, or what you can call a sack in a training camp practice.”
Dillard, along with the other backups in contention for the swing tackle job, has struggled throughout camp.
LaFleur is gambling by playing Love without two offensive line starters. Dillard rolled out the red carpet for opposing pass rushers while with the Tennessee Titans last season. He is now having to adjust to a switch to the right side of the offensive line.
The Packers miss Yosh Nijman as their primary backup. Dillard will likely make the roster despite a difficult training camp, and Green Bay needs him to perform well in the preseason opener.
