Don’t expect to see Lane Taylor again during the 2019 season.
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Taylor needs surgery to repair a tear in his biceps muscle and will likely miss the rest of the season.
The Packers placed Taylor, a starter at left guard since the 2016 season, on injured reserve on Saturday. He would be eligible to return in eight weeks, but as Silverstein notes, Taylor’s recovery timeline will likely span far longer than just two months.
Taylor was injured during Wednesday’s practice. It took the Packers only a few days before they deemed it necessary to place him on injured reserve.
Rookie Elgton Jenkins, the 44th overall pick in the draft, started in place of Taylor at left guard. The two had been competing to start at the position. In fact, Jenkins rotated in for 18 snaps against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2.
Coach Matt LaFleur was pleased with the way Jenkins played in his first career start against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. He’ll be the full-time starter at left guard moving forward.
The future of the man he’s replacing is far less certain.
Taylor, who started the first two games of the regular season, will turn 30 in November. He is under contract through the 2020 season, but the Packers could save over $4.5 million by releasing him before next year. It’s possible he’s played his last down in Green Bay.
