This Is Likely Sean Rhyan’s Last Chance to Stick with the Packers Beyond This Season
By GilMartin
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?
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
__________________________
Comments (70)
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 10:14 am
With competent O-Linemen in short supply, Rhyan (and R. Walker and Jenkins) will garner big Free Agent contracts-10-20 Million/yr. They have the leverage @ this point. Pretty certain Rhyan will want to show-case his talent @ Center to increase his 'attractiveness' w/those willing and able to pay him. All 3 of them will likely prefer teams with an existing good OL so they are not tasked with propping up and a promise to return them to their preferred positions-
Jenkins to Left Guard, Rhyan to Right Guard and R Walker @ Tackle.
Oppy
November 15, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Rhyan was a starting LT for the majority of his career in college- I'm pretty sure that's his preferred position as opposed to RG, and he's not going to get that chance to play LT in the NFL. He'll be happy to play anywhere he's asked to play.
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 12:59 pm
That's not the point-Rhyan has not been treated well by GB this season for whatever reason-he has been benched for several games.
He will have other opportunities and will likely take one of them and he will be paid over $10M/yr. 100% he will leave.
Oppy
November 15, 2025 at 01:02 pm
So you don't know the reason he hasn't played, but you know he hasn't been treated well? Okay, I guess.
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 01:20 pm
He was benched-did you miss that? Just stop-
Now he's the Center? Players don't forget that -If I can see it why can't you?
He is playing for the next team-you should take a class in what motivates people.
LLCHESTY
November 15, 2025 at 01:50 pm
If playing center means playing full-time I'm sure he's fine with it. It's not like he's been all world when he's been in there. He's a better run blocker than Morgan while Morgan is a better pass protector that is under contract for at least the next two years.
Coldworld
November 15, 2025 at 04:39 pm
Well put. For 90 plus percent of NFL players, any position you can and are played is a godsend and a lucrative one. There are very few who can walk into the league and guarantee a steady role and snaps.
Oppy
November 15, 2025 at 04:48 pm
Your head is going to explode if you saw a list of players who were benched and ended up having long term careers with the same team. It’s competitive sports, shit happens.
As to rhyan, you’ve already admitted you have know idea why he was benched- could be skill. Could be he was banged up. Maybe he got caught doing something he shouldn’t be doing. Maybe he was going through something off field.
You have no idea.. but that’s just football any way you slice it.
Will the packers retain rhyan? No idea. But this idea you have about rhyan being upset and looking for the next team is probably just between your ears.
Mister Chievous
November 16, 2025 at 09:18 am
being benched doesn't mean he was treated poorly. it means he played poorly. your comments are absurd.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 16, 2025 at 05:56 am
You don't know any such thing and it's ridiculous to pretend you do. Right now Rhyan has the chance to play C. So far he's played well and better than Jenkins has this year, which is surprising.
The fact that Rhyan has played better than Jordan Morgan and got benched anyway might cause Rhyan to refuse to come back to GB next season no matter what, but neither you nor anyone else here actually knows that. It's probable that Rhyan has made no such decision as of now, and is just focused on playing C for the rest of this season.
splitpea1
November 15, 2025 at 10:23 am
Draft a center (or two). The way things are looking now, the Packers will either have to move up (possibly a long way) in the second round to get one of the two best prospects or wait until the fifth round or later.
Just to give everyone comfort, the offensive snap-less Jacob Monk has been elevated to the active roster. Pray we don't have any more center injuries.
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 10:43 am
lol
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 01:07 pm
My only concern is that there are very rookies able to play Center without some seasoning-though I thought Joe Tippman of the Jets was remarkable
Oppy
November 15, 2025 at 01:07 pm
Scott Wells was a 7th round draft pick. Corey Linsley was a 5th round draft pick. Frank Winters was a 10th round pick. Those are the three best Packers Centers of the last 40 years, and they played most of the last (21 of the last 40 years one of these three men held down the starting center position).
You don't always hit, but you don't need to go high in the draft to find quality centers. You just need to hit.
TKWorldWide
November 15, 2025 at 02:26 pm
You beat me to it! IOL can definitely be found in later rounds of the draft.
Packerlifer
November 15, 2025 at 03:58 pm
And Frank Winters. came in via free agency so there's always that avenue to consider.
TKWorldWide
November 16, 2025 at 11:38 am
Nah, he’s too old. 😉
Coldworld
November 15, 2025 at 04:45 pm
Center is as much about what is between the ears these days as it is athletic ability. Ideally one wants both, but C is typically the position the least athletic OLs can play if they have the smarts and can get low enough to maintain leverage. If Rhyan can, and can read the D and make calls, it’s his lucky day as he’s more than athletic enough.
Oppy
November 15, 2025 at 06:25 pm
Mostly true, but asking your center to execute reach blocks is becoming more and more common, and you need a pretty good deal of athletic ability to reach block effectively.
LLCHESTY
November 16, 2025 at 08:48 am
Unfortunately the time to draft a center was 2024 not 2026. Maybe things have changed but the last time I looked most of the top Cs lacked size. I do know that one of the top guys tore his ACL so maybe he'll be available much later than he would have been.
lou
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 am
You know things are bad when Jersey Al said this week, "we should have paid John Runyan Jr." who we will see on the opposite side this Sunday. No unit needs more stability and continuity than the offensive line which points to our having a high end offense one week and a struggling offense the next week. Ted Thompson had a knack for picking outstanding offensive lineman and wide receivers during his tenure and we got spoiled up front and on the flanks.
jannesbjornson
November 15, 2025 at 10:39 am
Van Roten is the other Guard. He has stuck around the league. It never hurts to have one of these Journeymen
stashed on your roster. See how Banks shows the next couple of contests. Reggie McKenzie helped Ted secure his blue chips for the successful O lines. Milt Hendrickson?
LeotisHarris
November 15, 2025 at 10:55 am
Milt had Ozzie Newsom to make decisions in Baltimore.
Did you know Milt had a connection to UW -La Crosse, just like Gute? Who you know plays a huge roll as we've seen with Gute's ascension to the throne.
Oppy
November 15, 2025 at 12:36 pm
The Packers ended up with a really good OL after years of iffy and failed picks by TT- let's not romanticize it.
For every Bulaga, Sitton, and Wells there was a Spitz, Barbre, and Moll.
Aaron Rodgers spent a good number of his early years running for his life.
Packers DID end up with a very good starting OL, but TT went through years to get them found and solidified.
Side note, Jon Runyan Jr., not a bad OL, but he's not remotely special. People fall in love with the lineage and name recognition- he's not that guy.
dobber
November 15, 2025 at 06:09 pm
It's my understanding that he's likely to be a cut this offseason.
LLCHESTY
November 16, 2025 at 08:50 am
He and his family were probably the only ones not shocked by what he got paid.
KenEllis
November 15, 2025 at 10:42 am
GB has treated Ryan like a disfavored step-child since he arrived.
Even if he thrives at Center, why the Hell would he re-sign to play where he was unwanted?
Time to accept reality, Rhyan, Walker LT, and Jenkins are all gone and there is no $ under the cap to sign veteran replacements (that $ went to Aaron Banks).
Thus, Gutey will be using his limited draft capital on the OL in 2026 (hopefully more successfully than he did on Morgan & Belton).
MLF deservedly getting a lot of heat, but the shit-show along the OL is mostly Gutey’s handiwork. And it does not look promising for 2026.
Snap the ball
November 15, 2025 at 11:12 am
His first two years he didn’t play well wasn’t ready
Now he’s playing better and can grab a spot.
They are going to pay a guy they gave money to and give Morgan a higher chance of playing
But others have out played those two.
But to many changes on the o line that was the downfall of the Cleveland game.
It’s like Derek Sherod and Justin Harrell they didn’t work out.
Walker back next year along with Ryhan and Tom and probably Jenkins.
Maybe Banks got hurt in camp with a bad back and I said that back in August that’s a year long deal to get that right … so who knows
I’m more worried about winning the next game.
This is a good team and so are the Giants they had the Bears beat on the road.
We won the Super Bowl with I think 12 starters out so time to win tomorrow
dobber
November 15, 2025 at 12:01 pm
"GB has treated Ryan like a disfavored step-child since he arrived."
You're saying he deserved more PT?
"Time to accept reality, Rhyan, Walker LT, and Jenkins are all gone and there is no $ under the cap to sign veteran replacements (that $ went to Aaron Banks)."
So you've been reading the old posts around here from February?
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 12:12 pm
I think the point is that Rhyan, though not as valued by Green Bay, will be handsomely paid by another team next season. I will bet money on it.Jenkins was disgruntled and won't return; he will be paid and will go back to playing guard. R Walker is being replaced by J Morgan and will be paid too.
We can argue and debate all we want, but the loss of those 3 is monumental.
Coldworld
November 15, 2025 at 10:59 am
Did Rhyan start the season as a preferred starter or was it simply the fact that Morgan was dragged everywhere by injuries? My impression is that it was need. Play to date hasn’t been decisive (which isn’t an endorsement of either), but if anything, Rhyan seemed slightly better but Morgan ended up starting. Let’s see what he can do. Let him make a case. If he does, he may very well realize that he’s found his route to a full time NFL role with this team that he may not get elsewhere. Go grab it.
Snap the ball
November 15, 2025 at 11:20 am
Morgan higher draft pick going to play before Ryhan. That’s how it works until they finally say
Use the Donald Driver rule the 7th round pick is better than anybody else at the time.
Until that happens in the front office then Banks and Morgan will play
The problem is they need snot coming out of there nose to play O line the rest of the way.
If I was in there shoes I would have loved to went at Jalen Carter last week . give him credit I didn’t see to many cheap shots like he normally does probably because of Monday night football.
Anyway 8 games left need to figure it out.
Further more they should be able to pass block for 3 seconds
And on a run play move the pile for 3 seconds
Coldworld
November 15, 2025 at 05:01 pm
If they aren’t rookies, you play the better player. Draft status gets initial opportunities certainly, but Morgan isn’t a rookie and even they seem to see him as a T. But if we are in a win now situation, play your best players now at positions where they are the best player, not another one where they aren’t to squeeze them in.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 16, 2025 at 06:04 am
I don't think Jordan Morgan is our best player at RG now, but he's going to play there anyway. Hopefully it doesn't cost us any games.
Snap the ball
November 15, 2025 at 11:02 am
Walker Ryhan and maybe even Jenkins not going anywhere for next year.
They drafted a center in Monk.
If Ryhan does well at center
Next year Walker. Jenkins Ryhan Belton Tom
Or
Walker Jenkins Tom Ryhan Belton
Leatherhead
November 15, 2025 at 11:32 am
I'm not so sure of that.
The Packers are going to have to make some changes. You're going to have to look at the contracts for Banks and Jenkins and figure out what you're going to do there. You have Tom, Morgan and Belton, and Glover and Monk and some other bodies,
I'd pencil in Morgan as the LT, and with Tom at RT, acquire a premium Center in the draft or FA. Then, I'd fill in the guards as best I could.
I'd cut ties with Jenkins. The dead money after this season would only be about $5M, but if he plays for us next year, he's going to cost $25M against the cap.
Banks.....we could part company after the season and take the $20M dead money hit. OR we could keep him for $25M against the cap. I'd cut him, too.
I'd love to keep Walker. Good lineman are hard to find and he's an LT. But I'm 100% confident that we're going to see some changes if a thin OL derails us. We're one injury away.
LLCHESTY
November 15, 2025 at 01:58 pm
You penciled in Morgan at LT last year. Probably should stay out of the prediction business, unless you like showing the people on here what's NOT going to happen.
Leatherhead
November 16, 2025 at 07:39 am
Yes, I should have realized that Morgan was going to miss most of the season with injuries.
Since I have you here....could you explain to me again how Matthew Golden runs bad routes?
LLCHESTY
November 16, 2025 at 08:56 am
I forget, did Morgan win the LT job before he was injured? Seems like he got an awful lot of snaps at G in his rookie TC. But you're never wrong so I must be.
Seems like Golden's main problem right now is running the WRONG routes but part of that is on the Packers. If they want him on the field they should simplify his role. He should be playing Reed's role while Reed is out even if that means he's on the field less.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 16, 2025 at 06:06 am
You're saying you wouldn't pay Banks $5 MM next year? You can't replace him for that little.
Leatherhead
November 16, 2025 at 07:40 am
No, I'm saying that if we release him after this season, it's $5M in dead money. If we bring him back to play for us, it's$25M.
Leatherhead
November 15, 2025 at 11:10 am
Ever since Runyan got $10M/year from the Giants, I've just kind of assumed Rhyan would play his four years here and then he'd get a FA offer that we wouldn't want to match. Retaining Tom was going to be more of a priority, and there's only so many people you can pay.
We don't have an abundance of healthy, NFL quality offensive linemen, despite drafting Belton and signing guys in FA. It has to be the priority this offseason.
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 11:15 am
It's not only about 'healthy', it's about competence.
Snap the ball
November 15, 2025 at 11:25 am
Need to sign Cody Mauch from Tampa his deal about up and hurt but a good guy to pick up
Snap the ball
November 15, 2025 at 11:32 am
Jenkins will stay just pay him a friendly deal he likes.
Let’s see if they kept Myers and Runyan
We would be. Walker. Jenkins Myers Runyan Tom
Seems like we played 49ers and almost went to nfc championship game if the kicker makes a kick and we would have beat the Lions .
And older wiser line…………..thoughts on that Ken E
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 12:05 pm
Jordan Morgan has been signed to take over Left Tackle-R Walker will get paid elsewhere.
dobber
November 15, 2025 at 12:06 pm
At this point, coming off the season he's had at 30 and with a serious leg injury, Jenkins' bargaining power is zero, and he's not likely to garner anywhere close to what he's getting in GB on the open market. If the Packers decide to keep him around, he'll probably need to take a significant pay cut.
Coldworld
November 15, 2025 at 04:49 pm
We all assume that the drop off is due to his move to C. I’m not so sure. He hasn’t been the same since his injury. He’s been decent, but not the plus player he was. Are injuries catching up with him a factor here? How does the league see it?
SicSemperTyrannis
November 16, 2025 at 06:08 am
JRJ was a good, solid O lineman. He got paid more than GB could afford.
Bear
November 15, 2025 at 11:42 am
Using over the cap salary data the Packers can save over 38 million in cap space by releasing Jenkins & Banks post June in 2026.
Oppy
November 15, 2025 at 01:00 pm
saving cap is one thing, but if you don't have better options to fill the void, it makes it a cutting-off-your-nose-to-spite-your-face proposition.
Coldworld
November 15, 2025 at 04:56 pm
Jenkins was going to need a new deal anyway. There’s no way we could pay him as currently scheduled. We’d have had to push cap forward anyhow. At this point, I think it’s unlikely that we’d do that for cap reasons and his play this year unless there is little to no market. It only takes one team to rate him highly in a likely poor market.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 16, 2025 at 06:10 am
False. Getting rid of Banks only saves $5 MM. You can't replace him that cheaply.
Coldworld
November 16, 2025 at 07:16 am
If Banks was playing as well as he has in prior years then he’d be a decent starter. So it’s either health or coaching. In his case I suspect it’s overwhelmingly health and trying to play through it isn’t working. Time for the coaches to step up and rest him. Get him healthy and it’s possible we start seeing a player worth keeping.
Bear
November 16, 2025 at 11:06 am
You looked at “pre-June release” I said “post-June release” which is 18 million…..
LambeauPlain
November 15, 2025 at 11:49 am
I have never understood the musical chairs at RG. I did not understand how Morgan was moved to RT when he never played it before in college...or for the Packers in games or practice. I do not understand how the Packers OL coaching staff has not developed high draft choices in Myers, Rhyan, Morgan...and to a certain degree, Belton.
The #1 Morgan and the #2 Belton profiled very differently for the NFL though both played T in college.
Morgan, with his quickness and good feet, looked to be an NFL T prospect. He's actually played well at T.
Belton, with his size and strength profiled to G and was touted for mauling run blocking but lacking in pass pro. So what is needed on the OL that Belton can bring?
So of course the OL coaching staff force feeds Morgan at G and made Belton the swing tackle. I don't understand.
LLCHESTY
November 15, 2025 at 02:03 pm
I said it a couple times during TC that there didn't seem to be much of a plan behind Tom at RT. The plan seemed to be cross their fingers and hope he stayed healthy. Morgan and Walker both should have been getting 2nd team snaps there when the other was getting 1st team snaps. Either that or Belton should have been placed there and left there and gotten some 1st half preseason playing time to see if he could handle it.
Coldworld
November 15, 2025 at 05:07 pm
There was a plan, it was Belton. It was just a plan that failed to account for how raw he was and that he might actually G. What they refused to contemplate was a plan B, if Belton indeed didn’t make a huge jump. We refused to quit training Morgan at LT and then trotted him out at the position. We refused to train Belton at RG. This isn’t the first time such personnel decisions have bitten us and it’s still not surprising it sets up the team and the player to fail.
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 11:55 am
Experienced OL men are expensive and Green Bay does not have a 1st round pick so they will likely have to move up in the Draft. But, the Corner Room is in need of reinforcements as well. And, there are valuable players who will be Free Agents and will attract outside attention-Doubs, Q Walker, Watson, (If injury free), so those contracts will be pricey.
I am almost 100% certain Jenkins, R Walker and Rhyan will be gone. Where does that leave the O-Line? Who will play Center? Drafting a Center is risky as most rookies need time to adjust, it can't be Monk; what will GB do about the poor play of Banks? Will Morgan morph into a good Left Tackle? How about Belton? He seems to be a bit of a project.
SicSemperTyrannis
November 16, 2025 at 06:13 am
Watson is signed, no risk of losing him.
You claim Monk can't be our C next year but we have no idea what he is. Most likely scenario is he competes with Rhyan for C next year, but let's get through this season first.
dobber
November 15, 2025 at 12:09 pm
Playable, high end IOL can be found all over day 1 and 2 of the draft. So can CBs. Expect one of each on day two of the draft next spring.
NFLfan
November 15, 2025 at 01:02 pm
OK
Oppy
November 15, 2025 at 01:14 pm
I mean, he's not wrong.
Unless you have something to counter with, just keep it moving.
Coldworld
November 15, 2025 at 05:13 pm
We also have Dalton, Jennings, Monk and Williams. All looked like plausible prospects at G (C for monk primarily). At some point one or two of those (Jennings and Monk basically missed year one as is Williams) should take a step by next year if our coaching is not a complete and utter debacle.
Stars no, that’s unlikely, but they are good enough athletes that at least a couple should become solid. If the coaching is the issue, then we need more dramatic change and we may find what we have is better. Like Quay Walker post Barry, as an example.
THESZOTMAN1
November 15, 2025 at 03:21 pm
Jacob Monk at center.
Tell me you're kidding, Gil
The Szotman
Snap the ball
November 15, 2025 at 07:12 pm
Winds tomorrow in New York. 290 direction and 20knots with gusts to 35 knots
The stadium is north and south so a west north west wind a slight crosswind
Depending on how the wind flows into the stadium
The sun dips down and sets past the 50 yard line on the west side of the field
Snap the ball
November 15, 2025 at 07:16 pm
Ryhan is fine. Will be saying should have done that the beginning of the year
Packerlifer
November 15, 2025 at 08:06 pm
If we had to pinpoint just where the problems that have surfaced with the Packers this season lbegan and which ones can directly trace to the difference between where the team is and where it could be it would be the o-line and special teams. And not coincidentally these are two areas that Gutekunst and LaFleur have exhibited the most cavalier attitude about putting together a championship NFL team.
They don't put consistent players in consistent positions in those areas and seem to feel that just anyone can handle returns and blocking protection on kicks or move the big guys around in any configuration to make the offensive fulcrum work. So it probably shouldn't be any big surprise that blocked kicks and the o-line getting beat and beat up in the trenches is directly attributable for the losses to Cleveland, Carolina and Philly.
There seems to be a "philosophical" issue with the coach and the front office that needs to be examined going forward. You can have the quarterback, a fine running back intriguing receivers and tight ends but without a cohesive line blocking unit your offense is going to be constipated.
Since'75
November 16, 2025 at 11:56 am
With the exception of Tucker Kraft, Gute doesn't have a lot of success with 3rd round picks.
Not my opinion, it's fact.
CanPackFan
November 16, 2025 at 04:41 pm
Ryan looked ok at Center today. Running game was certainly better. Interior run - especially the 11 run TD run - was right up the gut. We haven't sen anything like that from Jenkins all year. Jenkins is a far better guard.