From a good chance of making the roster to not even lasting all of the preseason? That's how bad it may have gotten for the Green Bay Packers' second-year offensive lineman Jacob Monk.
Fans understandably had concerns after Monk didn't play a single offensive snap during his rookie season, even when injuries piled up along the offensive line. He looked on track to secure a backup job this summer, especially after getting regular first-team action during Elgton Jenkins' absence. However, one preseason game may have dramatically shifted the conversation.
The Packers had a night to forget in their 30-10 loss to the New York Jets in the preseason opener, but Monk's audition couldn't have gone any worse.
Second-year Jacob Monk may have already played his way off the Packers' roster
Monk had a disastrous night, allowing a sack and drawing three penalties, and he looked uncomfortable for many of the 30 snaps he played.
Notably, the Packers didn't have Monk take the second-team reps at center. That opportunity belonged to Sean Rhyan, with Monk surprisingly playing at right guard. That experiment didn't work, but it may have hinted at the Packers preferring Rhyan over Monk as Jenkins' immediate backup.
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A fifth-round draft pick a year ago, Monk entered the league with hopes of following in the footsteps of many former Day 3 offensive line selections in Green Bay, like Corey Linsley. That ship may have sailed.
"The Packers had multiple chances to give Jacob Monk some run as a rookie and said no thanks," writes Peter Bukowski of The Leap. "He was replacing Elgton Jenkins during the contract standoff and as soon as Jenkins came back, Sean Rhyan was playing that spot. He just might not be a player."
Bukowski makes a great point. The Packers' actions haven't shown a huge amount of confidence in Monk, and his performance on Saturday night likely indicates why.
Monk's disappointing evening also shines a bright light on the Packers' lack of interior offensive line depth.
If Monk isn't the answer, where do the Packers turn? It's not ideal if Rhyan, the current starting right guard, is next in line at center should Jenkins leave the field. It would require some reshuffling, with 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan potentially stepping in to replace Rhyan.
Who else could step up? Second-year Donovan Jennings is a candidate. However, while talented and offering potential at multiple positions, he has played zero NFL snaps.
The Packers have questions to answer, and Monk's awful preseason debut may force them to look for a replacement.