Connor McGovern, a former Missouri Tigers offensive lineman, was a fifth-round pick in this past year’s NFL draft. As a rookie, most lineman don’t start, especially when they are drafted by the defending Super Bowl champions.

But for McGovern, thanks to injuries, he may be the starting right guard for the Denver Broncos Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. So, is he ready?

“I’d like to think I am,” said McGovern, via denverpost.com. “That’s obviously a huge call especially against a team like Carolina. It’s going to be primetime TV. It’s the Super Bowl all over again. It’s something that I’m going to do everything I can to be ready for, if it does happen.”

Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post said McGovern knows he’s had troubles with being consistent and thinking too much. As a rookie, regardless of the position, there is a big learning curve going from college to the professional level.

Ty Sambrailo (hyper-extended right elbow) and Darrion Weems (concussion) were in line to be the top-two right guards for the Broncos this season. But, again, injuries happened.

So far this summer, Wolfe said McGovern’s been running as the third-team center the majority of the time. The Broncos’ backup center, James Ferentz, has had injuries plague him as well, as he had his knee scoped earlier this week.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak talked about McGovern and his current situation.

“Connor is a young player who’s in the mix at the right guard spot for us,” Kubiak said. “He’s having to bounce around. As we try to get to suiting seven guys in two weeks, a big factor with that is how does Connor keep coming? I’ve been pleased with his work.”

As long as McGovern keeps pleasing Kubiak, he will be in line to start Week 1. One advantage he has going for him is that he is on a defending champion team who won primarily because of its defense.

McGovern talked about going against guys like Derek Wolfe and an extremely talented Broncos defensive line.

“Going against a guy like Wolfe every day, that’s practice you can’t get anywhere else,” McGovern said. “Any little weakness those kind of guys are going to expose it. It’s not a confidence builder to go against them, but it’s great practice because you’re going to learn what you need to work on.”

It may not be easy in practice for McGovern, but like he mentioned, things won’t get any easier right off the bat against Carolina if he continues to impress the coaches watching him.

The Broncos host the Panthers on Sept. 8 in what will be a Super Bowl rematch.