It felt inevitable, but it was still surprising how quickly the Green Bay Packers made a change.
During Sunday's victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the Packers made an apparent switch from Jordan Morgan to rookie Anthony Belton at right guard. It's a notable development, as it likely leaves Morgan out of the Packers' starting lineup, while Belton is only now getting snaps at guard, having practiced exclusively at tackle during the offseason.
Belton and Morgan rotated at guard early in the game, but by the second half, it was Belton's job. He outsnapped Morgan 45 to 21, and it sounds like Belton may become the full-time starter.
"I just think it's his his style of play. He's a mauler," head coach Matt LaFleur said postgame. "He does a great job. I love the way he plays the game. Certainly, that's going to be something, we've got to look at the tape and see how it fared for us, but he's done a great job."
Packers made a notable change along the offensive line in victory over Vikings
Only on Wednesday, Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus said Belton had been getting reps at the interior positions. By Sunday, he had seemingly overtaken Morgan in the right guard spot.
Morgan's long-term future is likely left tackle or bust, and he should get that opportunity if Rasheed Walker departs in free agency. But he has struggled at right guard. Belton could thrive there, where he can use his strength to hold off interior pass-rushers and open up rushing lanes, an area where Morgan struggled.
"Anthony Belton looks like the real deal at right guard," Zach Kruse of Packers Wire wrote during the game.
And it's difficult to disagree with his assessment. Belton was especially impressive considering he doesn't have much experience at guard. He was a college tackle and spent the entire offseason getting reps on the outside.
An interior trio of Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, and Belton should help the Packers' run game find more consistency. Green Bay may have accidentally found its best starting five. We'll see.
It's also a good move with the bigger picture in mind. If Belton and Morgan are part of the 2026 starting five, it seems far more likely that it'll be Belton at guard and Morgan at left tackle.
The Packers felt the need to make a change, and Belton is off to an impressive start. It had become inevitable, but it's still surprising to see LaFleur send his former first-round pick to the bench.