Most NFL teams don’t have two capable offensive tackles. It’s possible the Green Bay Packers now have three.
The team officially claimed veteran Jared Veldheer off of waivers on Friday. He’ll begin his tenure with the Packers on the exempt list as he returns from a six-month retirement from the NFL.
Once he’s activated to the 53-man roster, Veldheer should give the Packers valuable depth at both offensive tackle spots.
A third-round pick in 2010, Veldheer has started 91 games at left tackle and another 21 at right tackle. He even has one start at center.
That wide-ranging experience should make him an ideal third tackle for the Packers behind Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari, especially considering Bulaga’s annual struggles with injuries.
The Packers are going into Sunday’s game against the Giants with uncertainty about Bulaga’s status after he injured his knee during the team’s loss in San Francisco last Sunday night. Veldheer probably won’t be ready to contribute on Sunday, but down the line, he’ll provide the Packers with a strong insurance policy against an injury to either Bulaga or Bakhtiari.
Second-year offensive tackle Alex Light came into the season as the team’s No. 3 tackle. He performed admirably in the Packers’ win over the Chiefs in Kansas City, but he struggled mightily during extended playing time against both the Eagles and 49ers.
The Packers needed an upgrade, and Veldheer’s return from retirement provided the perfect opportunity.
Now, the Packers can continue developing Light, keep Billy Turner at right guard and still be comfortable with the situation behind the starters at offensive tackle.
At the very least, Veldheer is an immediate roster improvement over rookie Yosh Nijman, who was promoted from the practice squad earlier this week.
An injury to Bulaga or Bakhtiari would still be damaging because both are top-end players at their respective positions. However, having Veldheer as the No. 3 tackle should lessen the drop off from starter to backup, especially in a high leverage situation such as a road game (the Packers play three of their final five away from home) or in the playoffs.
Imagine Bulaga going down in Minnesota on Dec. 23. Or Bakhtiari hobbling off the field in a playoff game in January. Both would have been doomsday scenarios for the Packers before adding Veldheer, an experienced player who – when ready to play – might be one of the NFL’s best No. 3 offensive tackles.
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