Packers TE Sternberger to Return from IR
The Green Bay Packers have declared TE Jace Sternberger designed to return off IR, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky.
Also, the Packers have declared tight end Jace Sternberger designed to return off IR., per a source. He had an ankle injury and now is one of two guys off IR that can return this year.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 16, 2019
The rookie left with an ankle injury suffered in the Packers preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, a game in which he caught a touchdown.
Sternberger was selected with Green Bay's 3rd round pick and played his junior season at Texas A&M University where he caught 10 touchdowns and logged 48 catches for 832 yards.
The Packers now can either promote him to the active roster, release, or send him back onto IR for the rest of the season. They will have three weeks starting the first day he practices to decide what to do.
Ryne Ryskoski is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV who attends Texas A&M University where he is majoring in journalism in hopes to one day write for a pro sports team. He can be contacted directly through twitter @rusty_ryskoski_.
Comments (14)
TheVOR
October 16, 2019 at 04:45 pm
Was hoping they would do this, makes sense. He was just starting to show something when he went down with that super awkward landing. This is a good call, comes at a great time, maybe he can help out in the passing game while our WR's recover a bit.
Samson
October 16, 2019 at 07:57 pm
The sooner they activate Sterny, the better... Only Lewis has shown any value in the 1st six games... The other two are using up roster spots that could be better used elsewhere.
Dzehren
October 16, 2019 at 08:16 pm
Rookie TE’s rarely produce In year 1. That being said, Jace could carve out an over the middle target with the current stable of WR/TE options Gb has available.
Irish_Cheesehead
October 17, 2019 at 07:15 am
"Rookie TE’s rarely produce In year 1"
Guess it depends on how you define "produce":
TJ Hockenson 15 rec 187 yds 2 TD
Noah Fant 14 rec 152 yds 1 TD
Jimmy Graham 14 rec 149 yds 2 TD
Dzehren
October 17, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Well, Jace is a far cry from Fant, Hockenson or a young Graham. He will have to learn how to block NFL caliber lineman and create sparation against NFL caliber LB's and Safetys.
dobber
October 17, 2019 at 02:34 pm
"He will have to learn how to block NFL caliber lineman and create sparation against NFL caliber LBs and Safetys"
So will Graham.
PatrickGB
October 16, 2019 at 08:34 pm
Let him stay inactive. Too little, too late. Could not do much for the team at this point. I prefer Campbell or Greene to come back anyway.
Thegreatreynoldo
October 17, 2019 at 01:07 pm
Campbell is on PUP. There is no limit on activating players from PUP. Activating Campbell won't count as one of GB's designations.
Only Lane Taylor, Greene and Sternberger are currently eligible to be designated for return. GB could put someone on the IR and still get that player back by week 15 or so. Another few weeks at that possibility passes. I don't know Lane Taylor's recovery time, but a torn biceps = significant time anyway. I guess I am assuming he is done for the season since we know he had surgery on it.
EDIT: GB has activated Campbell from PUP. He will start practicing and GB will have 3 weeks to either put him on the 53 man roster, release him, put him on IR.
jeremyjjbrown
October 16, 2019 at 08:53 pm
I don;t get why these rules need to be so complicated. They should just let you bring up to 2 players back to the 53 from IR once they have been on the list at least 6 weeks. The NFL sure does like things messy.
hobowilly
October 16, 2019 at 09:27 pm
for what it's worth, i believe GB really likes Sternberger and believe he can open up the middle and get down the field. Yes, he's a rookie but as Gutey always says we are planning for the future. I don't have a problem @ all with this designation and have a gut feeling he'll contribute more than people think. I'd use the other return option on Raven! Last, i also have a suspicion that Timmy Williams may have been a decent pick-up...I'm going with what Z has shared. We definately still need help in the middle (again) until Burks can SHOW he can play--that, is still yet to materialize.
jannesbjornson
October 16, 2019 at 09:43 pm
Well, he's not a UDFA, so that may be a clue.
Lofton82
October 17, 2019 at 06:19 am
Not a huge sample rate so far I know, but I have a good feeling about Sternberger as a receiver. He has good hands and runs good routes. Rodgers could really use that through the middle at the moment. Better option than Graham, who looks like he has one foot on the beach.
ALLGASNOBRAKES
October 18, 2019 at 03:51 am
"Better option than Graham, who looks like he has one foot on the beach."
Definitely... And it looks like that one foot on the beach is buried in 2 feet of sand. Graham is just another example of how quickly things can go downhill for a NFL player. All those years have took a huge toll on JG.
Anyways, I'm very excited to watch Sternberger. I loved the pick and hopefully he can contribute, especially later in season once he gets his feet a little wet.
Doug Niemczynski
October 17, 2019 at 09:31 pm
Maybe he will be a better red zone target than J. Graham l.