The Green Bay Packers Just Avoided a Major Postseason Disaster
The Green Bay Packers made a unique roster move Tuesday when they signed tackle Jared Veldheer off the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. The move was a strange one as Veldheer played in the Colts’ postseason loss to the Buffalo Bills last weekend. Had he suited up for the Packers this week against the Los Angeles Rams, he would’ve been the first player in NFL history to play postseason games for two different playoff teams in the same season. It won’t be happening and the Packers are fortunate they escaped what could have been a disaster after signing Veldheer.
Who is Jared Veldheer?
Jared Veldheer is a big boy. Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 321 pounds, Veldheer is a presence on the offensive line. Veldheer played his college football at Division II Hillsdale College and was a third-round selection in the 2010 NFL draft. The Oakland Raiders selected him with the 69th overall pick.
Veldheer spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Raiders. He showed his versatility on the offensive line as he was the Raiders’ starting center by the end of his rookie season. He wound up moving back to his normal tackle position when the season ended. In 2014, Veldheer signed a free-agent deal worth $35 million with the Arizona Cardinals.
His time with the Cardinals was marred by injuries, including a torn triceps in his third year with the team. He was traded to the Denver Broncos before the 2018 season and played one year in Denver. Veldheer signed with the New England Patriots in 2019 but abruptly retired, only to return. He was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers in 2019. He also had a short stint with the Indianapolis Colts.
Veldheer was on the verge of making history
Jared Veldheer started at left tackle for the Indianapolis Colts during last weekend’s playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. The Buffalo Bills eliminated the Colts after Saturday’s 27-24 victory at home. After the game, however, Veldheer found out his season wasn’t quite over yet.
The Green Bay Packers signed Veldheer in time for their playoff matchup this weekend against the Los Angeles Rams. According to ESPN, the Packers were allowed to sign Veldheer because he was on the Colts practice squad and was only elevated only for last Saturday’s game. He was not signed to the 53-man roster.
Veldheer is a familiar face in Green Bay. He was the Packers’ starting right tackle during their playoff win over Seattle last year after Bryan Bulaga was injured. The Packers convinced him to come out of retirement.
Jared Veldheer tests positive for COVID-19
Jared Veldheer was only with the Green Bay Packers for one day and caused some panic among the team and its fans. Veldheer tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) three days before Green Bay’s first playoff game. According to ESPN, the Packers avoided a significant blow as nobody was considered a close contact of Veldheer.
The Packers aren’t completely out of the woods. They must now wait out each day of daily COVID-19 tests before Saturday’s game to make sure there are no more positive tests, but no close contacts is a great start. Veldheer was in the testing program with the Colts, which is why he was able to join the Packers on the field immediately.
Green Bay was thin on the offensive line after left tackle David Bakhtiari was lost to a torn ACL in practice prior to the team’s Week 17 game against the Chicago Bears.
