Actions speak louder than words. While the Green Bay Packers continue to say the right things about Jordan Morgan, they haven't backed it up.
The Packers insist that Morgan will compete for a starting job, either at left tackle or right guard. He received starting reps while injuries hit the offensive line earlier in camp, but as soon as Aaron Banks and Elgton Jenkins returned to practice, Morgan suddenly reverted to the second-team offense.
An opportunity should be there, with openings at left tackle and right guard. But the Packers' decision to keep Morgan on the bench makes it crystal clear that they don't believe he is ready.
Left tackle Rasheed Walker and right guard Sean Rhyan are hardly locked into starting positions, but Morgan has yet to take over either spot.
Over a week into training camp, Morgan is still on the outside looking in. As Matt Schneidman of The Athletic noted during Monday's practice, when the Packers finally had their starters healthy, they rolled with Walker, Banks, Jenkins, Rhyan, and Zach Tom.
Schneidman went a step further by predicting this is "probably their Week 1 starting lineup."
Is Morgan a left tackle? A right guard? The Packers continue to experiment with their 2024 first-round pick at both positions, and that will only increase now that the majority of the offensive line is healthy. But the Packers' actions, not their words, provide a clearer picture.
The Packers won't admit that. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich noted that the former first-rounder is "looking pretty solid" while competing at two positions. Even that feels like muted praise.
But the fact remains that when Green Bay had its veterans healthy and available for practice, Morgan missed out.
Jordan Morgan is still on the outside looking in during Packers camp competition
The door should be wide open. Walker and Rhyan are entering contract years and could depart in free agency next offseason. In theory, that should play into Morgan's hands, as he is potentially the team's next left tackle. Yet it still hasn't happened.
We're still asking the same questions from last year. Is Morgan a tackle or guard? What's his best position?
He played left tackle in college for Arizona, but draft analysts projected he would move inside at the NFL due to his arm length. Morgan did switch to guard in his rookie season, but the Packers continue to believe he can play left tackle.
For now, though, a starting job remains out of reach, and it's a little concerning. Rhyan provided solid play last season, but he hasn't proven he can become a reliable, above-average starter. Rhyan earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 62.0 last season, ranking 67th of 136 guards.
Morgan briefly looked on track to win the starting job last summer before a shoulder injury derailed his momentum. Since then, though, the Packers have stuck with Rhyan at right guard.
Green Bay's coaches keep saying Morgan is in the mix to start, but all signs point to him beginning the season as a backup.
Competition is good, but the Packers need to see more from their first-round pick. They publicly show confidence in Morgan, and there's undoubtedly still time this summer, but a week into camp, their lineup decisions prove he is still not ready.