Missouri's All-SEC Tackle Green Sidelined for Season Opener
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz announced that All-SEC left tackle Cayden Green will miss the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Sophomore Jack Lange and veteran Whit Hafer are expected to fill in. Green is considered a potential first-round NFL draft pick.
Green's absence marks a rare interruption for a lineman who started consistently across two seasons at Missouri, with only a right foot injury in 2025 previously keeping him off the field. His preseason recognition included AP All-American honors alongside his All-SEC selections, and he posted the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus grade among tackles last year.
The Tigers will turn to sophomore Jack Lange, a former top in-state recruit who appeared in one game last season, and Whit Hafer, a converted tight end who played 11 games as a reserve. Both have taken first-team reps in practice, with teammates praising Lange's work ethic and Hafer's positional flexibility across the line.
Green's absence could affect Missouri's offensive line stability in the opener, though the opponent is a lower-tier program. The game may serve as a proving ground for Lange and Hafer, whose performances could shape the Tigers' protection plans in SEC play. For Green, protecting his draft stock while recovering may influence