Green Bay’s center situation went from shaky to downright frantic on Sunday, and now the Packers are bracing for the fallout.
Sean Rhyan, the team’s starting center, is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, according to sources relayed by Ian Rapoport. Rhyan left the game with the injury, did not return in Detroit’s 20-17 Week 7 win, and is scheduled for an MRI. X-rays came back negative, but the outlook still isn’t encouraging.
“# Packers C Sean Rhyan, who left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, sources say. X-Rays were negative, and he has an MRI today. But high-ankle sprains are often 4-6 week injuries.”
Head coach Matt LaFleur also said he does not expect Rhyan or backup Jacob Monk to be available against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8.
Rhyan’s night ended on the opening possession when Josh Jacobs fell into him from behind. The Packers had already burned through two centers before the first quarter was over.
Monk stepped in for Rhyan, but he soon injured his quad, possibly aggravating a problem that had already cost him multiple games over the past month. That forced John Williams into the middle, even though he had spent his college career as a left tackle and missed his entire rookie season because of injury.
Williams wound up handling the final 58 snaps and gave up three pressures. LaFleur didn’t hide how uneasy the situation was, but he did praise the way Williams steadied things.
“I can’t say enough about the job John Williams did, coming in in a hostile environment, handling the operation, the communication. 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.
The Packers do have other options, but none is a clean answer. Jager Burton, a fifth-round rookie from Kentucky, came into the league as a true center, though all 89 of his regular-season snaps have come at left guard.
He did take 23 snaps at center in the preseason. Donovan Jennings has 24 preseason snaps at center as well, but he has been a healthy scratch in recent weeks.
With Carolina coming to Lambeau Field on a short week, the job likely falls to Williams, who has live reps there, or Burton, who at least has some preseason work at the position.
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