The Green Bay Packers boast depth across nearly every position, a luxury that provides the coaching staff with options—but creates challenges for players struggling to perform. With competition heating up, those not meeting expectations are in danger of losing playing time.
This might be the deepest and most talented roster of the Matt LaFleur era. Everywhere you look, there’s competition, which has allowed the coaching staff to rotate players regularly, creating both opportunity and accountability.
While some Packers are taking advantage of these open doors, others find them closing fast. Here are five players who could be benched in the second half of the season.
Jordan Morgan
Jordan Morgan entered the season as the frontrunner to start at right guard, but early injuries derailed his momentum.
After missing a few games, Morgan returned in Week 6, yet he hasn’t been able to find his footing. The Packers gave him a chance to ease back into the rotation, sharing snaps with Sean Rhyan, but it’s become increasingly clear that Rhyan has outplayed him.
Morgan has struggled in multiple areas, from run blocking to pass protection. The jump to the NFL has proven challenging, and he’s still adjusting to the speed and physicality of pro-level defensive linemen. While the Packers believe in his long-term potential—thanks to his versatility and athleticism—his current form isn’t cutting it.
With Rhyan showing more consistency and comfort in the role, the coaching staff might decide to lean more heavily on him as the season progresses. Green Bay has plenty of depth across the offensive line, giving them the luxury of sitting Morgan if his struggles continue. While they’re unlikely to give up on him long-term, they need reliable performance now to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Quay Walker
Quay Walker entered the season with high hopes, but his performance through the first half has left the Packers with more questions than answers.
While his athleticism jumps off the screen, it hasn’t translated into consistent production. Walker’s issues with missed tackles, blown assignments, and poor play recognition have repeatedly put Green Bay’s defense in tough situations. If these struggles continue, the Packers may have no choice but to cut his snaps—and possibly bench him altogether in favor of more reliable options.
The Packers have already prepared for this scenario by investing heavily in linebacker depth.
Rookie Edgerrin Cooper has shown promise with his physicality and ability to diagnose plays quickly, while Ty’Ron Hopper offers versatility and upside. Both young linebackers are vying for bigger roles, and as Walker’s mistakes pile up, it becomes harder to justify keeping him on the field over players who are trending upward
Eric Wilson is a veteran who has separted himself from the others this season, and could be in line for a bigger role as a result.
Walker’s athletic tools are undeniable, but his mental lapses have made him a liability, especially in coverage and run fits. If the Packers hope to steady their defense during the second half of the season, they’ll need reliable linebacking play—and Walker hasn’t provided that. Benching him could also serve as a wake-up call, forcing him to sharpen his game and play with more discipline.
The Packers still believe in Walker’s potential, but belief only goes so far. With the defense searching for answers, Green Bay may turn to Cooper, Wilson, or other depth pieces in an effort to stabilize the unit before it’s too late.
Josh Myers
Josh Myers was supposed to be the Packers’ answer at center, but four seasons in, it’s fair to question if he’s the right fit.
He has struggled mightily in 2024, and as Green Bay pushes for consistency on offense, they may be forced to consider benching him in favor of more reliable options. His performance has been inconsistent at best, with breakdowns in communication and pass protection stalling drives at crucial moments.
Pro Football Focus gave Myers a 49.7 grade heading into Week 8, making him the lowest-ranked center in the league. He’s been slow to recognize blitzes, and his missed assignments have put added pressure on quarterback Jordan Love, disrupting the rhythm of the offense. With the Packers emphasizing precision and timing in their scheme, they can’t afford to have a weak link at such a pivotal position.
Green Bay has options if they decide to move on from Myers in the second half. When Myers went down with an injury earlier this season, they slid Elgton Jenkins to center, Rhyan to left guard and Morgan to right guard. That may be a way to get their five best offensive linemen on the field at one time, even if it means another position change for Jenkins.
The Packers still have a lot riding on this season, and they need consistency from their offensive line to help Love take the next step. Myers hasn’t delivered so far, and the coaching staff may not have the patience to wait much longer. If his struggles continue, a change at center could be coming sooner rather than later.
Emanuel Wilson
The Packers’ running back room has been in constant flux since the 2023 season ended. They moved on from Aaron Jones in free agency by waiving him, and opting to sign Josh Jacobs to lead the backfield. They also re-signed AJ Dillon to a one-year deal and drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round to compete for backup duties.
While Jacobs has been everything Green Bay hoped for as the lead back, neither Lloyd nor Dillon has made an impact. Dillon landed on season-ending injured reserve before the season even started, and Lloyd has battled leg injuries, suiting up for just one game.
That left Emanuel Wilson as the Packers’ primary backup to Jacobs for most of the season. Wilson initially performed well in the role, but things have started to shift.
Chris Brooks, signed to the active roster from the practice squad, has impressed in practice and is beginning to eat into Wilson’s workload. Week 6 saw Wilson play 23 snaps to Brook’s 10. In Week 7, Wilson still saw 12 offensive snaps to Brooks’ eight. However, the snap count flipped in Week 8 against the Jaguars, with Brooks taking 17 snaps to Wilson’s 12.
If Brooks continues to earn more playing time, Wilson could find himself slipping down the depth chart. And with Lloyd expected to return at some point during the second half of the season, Wilson’s role may shrink even further.
Unless he can reestablish himself quickly, Wilson risks being benched as the Packers explore other backfield options heading into the home stretch.
TJ Slaton
TJ Slaton started the 2024 season as a key piece on Green Bay’s defensive line, but his performance hasn’t lived up to expectations.
After winning the starting job alongside Kenny Clark, Slaton’s production has been underwhelming, and with other options emerging, his playing time could diminish in the second half of the season.
The return of Devonte Wyatt has complicated matters for Slaton. Wyatt is healthy again and playing at a high level, bringing the burst and playmaking ability the Packers were hoping for when they drafted him. Wyatt’s resurgence has allowed the Packers to shift their focus to getting the most out of their other young defensive linemen, including Colby Wooden and Carl Brooks. Both second-year pros have impressed in limited snaps and are making a strong case for increased playing time.
Slaton, on the other hand, hasn’t offered much impact in either run defense or pass rushing. His inconsistencies—failing to shed blocks, missing run fits, and not generating pressure—have left the door open for others to step in. With the Packers’ defensive line rotation becoming more crowded, the coaching staff may decide to lean more heavily on Wyatt, Wooden, and Brooks to support Clark moving forward.
Green Bay still has hopes of turning their defense into a dominant unit, and they need consistent play from the trenches to get there. If Slaton can’t raise his game soon, the Packers may have no choice but to bench him in favor of their younger, more productive options.
