The Green Bay Packers suffered a major blow to their offensive line when Elgton Jenkins sprained his MCL during last week’s loss to the Falcons. Jenkins is one of the most versatile and talented linemen in the NFL, and his loss is a significant challenge for the Packers to overcome. However, the young and talented player Sean Rhyan is the Packers best option to replace Jenkins in the starting lineup if and when he misses time. Rhyan was drafted by the Packers in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, and after a disappointing rookie season, showed flashes of potential during this offseason season.

Rhyan is a big, strong, and athletic offensive lineman. He is 6’5″ and 321 pounds, so he has the size and strength to hold his own against even the most powerful defensive linemen. He is also a very good athlete for a guard and has the quickness, as well as the footwork to keep up with pass rushers.

Of course, he is still developing as a player, but he has all the tools necessary to be a successful NFL offensive lineman. After an extremely disappointing rookie season, he has made a huge personal transformation. During training camp, he showed himself to be a smart and hardworking player and has a new drive to learn and improve. Rhyan seems to be a very coachable player, and he is willing to adjust his game based on the feedback he receives from his coaches.

Here are some specific reasons why Sean Rhyan is the Packers best option to replace Elgton Jenkins in Week 3 and potentially beyond:

  • He played nearly the whole offseason at left guard. Going into the offseason, Rhyan was viewed as a rotational player for the Packers and unlikely to have significant playing time. In order for the Packers to determine if he would develop, they had him focus most of his snaps into a single position. This pays dividends now since he is well prepared to step into the role.
  • He is a good fit for the Packers’ offensive scheme. The Packers like to use their offensive linemen in a variety of ways, and Rhyan is versatile enough to not force Matt LaFleur to radically change his game plan. He also is a very effective run blocker, something that the Packers have struggled with so far this season.

Of course, no player is perfect, and Rhyan is no exception. He is still a young player, and he will make mistakes from time to time. In the preseason, while he was overall pretty solid, he had some big miscues, including a pressure that lead to a pick-6 for the Bengals. However, Rhyan has the potential and tools to be a very good NFL offensive lineman.

In a season where evaluation is everything, it’s important for the Packers to learn more about what exactly they have in their former 3rd round pick. They made a big investment in drafting and developing him and now have the opportunity to learn more about him. He is the Packers best option to replace Elgton Jenkins in the Packers’ starting lineup while Jenkins heals.

Jordan is a lifelong Packer fan who grew up in Idaho and now lives in Seattle, Washington. You can follow him on twitter at @jordantwolf.

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