The old expression in the NFL is “next man up.” When Elgton Jenkins suffered a serious injury that likely ended his season, the next man up at center is Sean Rhyan. The Packers need Rhyan to provide them with solid center play going forward. This may also be the UCLA alum’s last chance to earn a second contract with Green Bay.
The middle of the Packers offensive line has been a problem for most of this season. Jenkins started very slowly at center and while his play gradually improved after the first three games, he hasn’t lived up to expectations this season. Now, he’s out of action for the rest of the regular season. Rhyan lost his job at right guard to Jordan Morgan. Meanwhile, left guard Aaron Banks has struggled with injuries and also has not lived up to the expectations of his hefty free agent contract.
GM Brian Gutekunst opted to go with bigger, more physical players on the interior offensive line, but it hasn’t worked out well, especially when it comes to run blocking. Now injuries will force the Packers to once again juggle their lineup.
Rhyan has had an up and down career with the Packers since they selected him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He played left tackle in college but was shifted to guard in the NFL. Rhyan appeared in only one game as a rookie and played exactly one snap on special teams. He struggled with the position change and the adjustment to the pro game. He was suspended for the final six games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on PEDs.
In 2023, Rhyan came back and became the backup to Jon Runyan, Jr. at right guard. While he didn’t start any games, he rotated in at right guard for several series each game and proved himself to be a solid run blocker although he often struggled in pass protection.
In 2024, Rhyan won the right guard job with rookie Jordan Morgan rotating in for several series behind him until an injury ended Morgan’s season in Week 6. While Pro Football Focus never gave Rhyan high grades, he did add toughness and intensity to the Packers offensive line and graded out as a solid starter.
This year, Rhyan started the season as the starter at right guard but eventually lost the job to Morgan. Injuries all along the line had Rhyan in and out of the starting lineup. Now, with Jenkins out long-term, Rhyan will step back into the starting lineup. The center job is now his to lose. In fact, the Packers have no proven depth behind Rhyan. Jacob Monk could be the starter if Rhyan gets injured or proves ineffective. The other option would be to move starting right tackle Zach Tom to center.
But moving to center gives Rhyan one more chance to prove his worth to the Packers and to possibly earn a second contract with the team. The UCLA product is in the final year of his rookie deal. We know Jenkins has a cap hit of $24.8 million next season. The Packers are unlikely to bring him back at that number. If Rhyan can play well at center, the Packers may be willing to sign him to a second contract at a much lower amount than it would cost them to keep Jenkins.
But obviously, Rhyan still needs to play well enough to earn that contract. He has received only limited reps at center mostly during training camp and in the preseason. He has also never established himself as a strong starter in this league.
Rhyan feels ready for the challenge and the opportunity. “I know where I'll be, and it allows me to kind of focus on center technique and doing all that,” Rhyan said. “So, it'll help, you know, take some off my mental plate a little bit throughout the week. So that's good.”
This may be Rhyan’s last chance to earn a second contract with the Packers and maybe even to earn a lucrative deal with any team. But can he take advantage of the opportunity and help the Packers improve their run blocking?