When Anthony James Belton stepped onto the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on November 23, 2025, he wasn’t just playing football—he was rewriting the script for the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line. A second-round pick out of Georgia Tech, Belton had spent his entire rookie season at tackle. But in the second half of a pivotal NFC North showdown against the Minnesota Vikings, Matt LaFleur, the Packers’ head coach, made a bold call: move the 6-foot-6, 336-pound rookie to right guard. And it worked. Not just okay. Worked. The Packers won 27-20. Belton played 35 straight snaps. No penalties. No blown blocks. Just quiet, brutal efficiency.
From Tackle to Guard: A Rookie’s Leap
Belton had never played guard in a game before. Not in college. Not in practice. Not even in flag football, by his own admission. His entire identity as a prospect was built on his length and athleticism—tools suited for left tackle. The Packers drafted him 54th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft with the idea he could slide inside if needed. But no one expected it to happen in Week 12, against Brian Flores’s aggressive, gap-scheme-heavy Vikings defense. Yet here he was, lining up next to Sean Patrick Rhyan at center and replacing Jordan Michael Morgan, the former first-round pick who’d been starting at guard since Week 3."I didn’t know how to stance at guard," Belton told reporters after the game. "I’d watched film. I’d drilled with the line coaches. But until you’re in the huddle, hearing the snap count against a guy like Danielle Hunter—you’re not really sure if you can do it. I just trusted my feet. And my dad’s voice in my head: ‘Don’t think. Just move.’"
Why This Move Made Sense
LaFleur didn’t make this decision on a whim. The Packers’ run game had been sputtering since Week 8. Aaron Jones was getting hit in the backfield. The offensive line was getting pushed back. Meanwhile, Belton had been lighting up practice reps at guard during the week. His footwork was quicker than expected. His leverage was perfect. And—crucially—he didn’t flinch when facing interior blitzes."He didn’t just hold his ground," LaFleur said in his post-game press conference at U.S. Bank Stadium around 9:15 p.m. CST. "He controlled it. Against Flores’ stunts and twist packages, he made five clean blocks on 2nd-and-long. That’s not rookie luck. That’s preparation meeting opportunity."
Acme Packing Company’s snap count analysis confirmed it: Belton allowed zero pressures, zero sacks, and generated three positive run plays over 4+ yards. His performance was statistically comparable to veteran guard Jon Runyan Jr.’s best games last season. And he did it without a single false start.
The Domino Effect: Morgan, Walker, and the Left Tackle Battle
The ripple effect? Massive. Jordan Morgan, who had been playing right guard, was shifted back to left tackle—where he started in preseason and where he’s more comfortable. But now, he’s not guaranteed the job. Enter Rasheed Demetrius Walker, the 2022 third-round pick whose contract expires March 12, 2026. Walker has been the backup at left tackle all season, but he’s been inconsistent. A bad hold against the Bears in Week 10 cost the Packers a touchdown drive."If Belton keeps this up," one veteran offensive lineman told ESPN’s Packers sideline reporter, "Morgan might not even need to play left tackle. We could just move him to right guard permanently and let Walker fight for his job—or let Belton slide out to left. Either way, we’ve got options now."
That’s the real story here: flexibility. The Packers’ offensive line had looked brittle all season. Now, they have a 23-year-old rookie who can play two positions at a high level. That’s rare. That’s valuable. And with five games left in the 2025 season, it could be the difference between a wild card and a first-round bye.
What This Means for the NFC North
The Vikings aren’t just any opponent. They’re the Packers’ fiercest rivals, and Flores’ defense is built to punish mistakes. The fact that Belton didn’t just survive—he thrived—against a unit that held the Bears to 3 points last week? That’s not a fluke. It’s a statement.The Packers now sit at 8-3. They’re tied with the Lions for first in the NFC North. Their remaining schedule includes home games against the Chiefs and Bills, and a road trip to Detroit. Every win matters. And now, they’ve got a new weapon: a rookie who doesn’t know he’s supposed to be nervous.
Behind the Scenes: The Packers’ Organizational Edge
This isn’t just about coaching. It’s about culture. The Green Bay Packers are the only publicly owned team in the NFL. They don’t answer to billionaires. They answer to 5.4 million shareholders. That means long-term thinking. That means investing in development, not just payroll.President and CEO Mark Murphy has overseen this model since 2008. And under his leadership, the Packers have consistently outperformed teams with bigger budgets. Belton’s emergence is the latest example. They didn’t sign a free agent guard. They didn’t trade for a veteran. They trusted their staff to develop a player—and when the moment came, they trusted the player to deliver.
"We don’t draft for the present," a front office source told PackersNews.com. "We draft for the future. But when the future shows up early? You let him play."
What’s Next?
Belton will start at right guard in Week 13 against the Kansas City Chiefs. LaFleur has confirmed it. The Packers will test him against Chris Jones and the league’s most dangerous interior pass rush. If he holds up, he’ll be the first rookie guard to start the final five games of a season for Green Bay since Jerry Kramer in 1958.And if he does? The entire offensive line hierarchy shifts. Morgan might become a full-time left tackle. Walker could be traded before the March deadline. Or—most intriguingly—Belton could move to left tackle next season, freeing up a veteran guard to come in and stabilize the middle.
The NFL is full of players who can’t adapt. Belton didn’t just adapt. He changed the game plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Anthony Belton perform against Brian Flores’ defensive scheme?
Belton allowed zero pressures or sacks over his 35 offensive snaps, according to Acme Packing Company’s analysis. He successfully handled complex stunts and twist packages designed by Flores, including multiple blitzes from defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. His ability to identify and counter inside moves—something many veteran guards struggle with—was a key reason the Packers rushed for 142 yards in the second half.
Why did Matt LaFleur wait until the second half to make the switch?
LaFleur wanted to see how the line performed early with Jordan Morgan at guard. After allowing two sacks and three tackles for loss in the first half, the coaching staff noticed Belton’s practice reps were superior. The decision was made at halftime, not because of panic, but because Belton had outperformed Morgan in drills all week. It was a calculated risk based on data, not desperation.
What does this mean for Rasheed Walker’s future with the Packers?
Walker’s contract expires March 12, 2026, and his inconsistent play at left tackle has made him expendable. With Belton now capable of playing both guard and tackle, and Morgan solidifying the right side, Walker could be traded before the deadline. The Packers may even draft a new left tackle in 2026, knowing Belton can cover either side if needed.
Is this the first time a Packers rookie has switched positions mid-season like this?
Not exactly. In 1994, offensive lineman Greg Kragen moved from tackle to guard mid-season and became a starter. But Belton’s transition—from tackle to guard, in a divisional game, against a top-5 defense—is unprecedented in the modern era. No rookie since 2000 has made such a positional switch with immediate, high-stakes success.
How does this affect the Packers’ playoff chances?
The Packers are now 8-3 and control their own destiny in the NFC North. With a stronger offensive line, Aaron Rodgers has more time to operate, and the running game becomes a legitimate weapon. If Belton continues performing, the Packers could secure a first-round bye. Their 13 Lombardi Trophies mean nothing without playoff relevance—and this move gives them a real shot.
Could Anthony Belton become a long-term starter at guard?
Absolutely. His combination of size, foot speed, and mental processing is rare for a guard. He’s already outperforming veteran starters like Brandon Fusco and David Bakhtiari in practice. If he maintains this level through the final five games, he’ll be named the starter for 2026. The Packers’ offensive line, long a weakness, could become its greatest strength—thanks to a rookie who refused to be boxed in.