The Green Bay Packers made eight picks during the 2019 NFL draft and signed several others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2019 season for all of the Packers’ top rookies.
Next up: tight end Jace Sternberger, the 75th overall pick and the Packers’ third-round draft pick in 2019:
Season stats
Sternberger spent the first two months on injured reserve and didn’t catch a pass over six regular-season games, but the rookie still managed to haul in three passes for 15 yards and a touchdown over two playoff games. His one regular-season target ended in a drop in the end zone in Week 14. He committed an illegal block above the waist penalty in Week 17 but also drew a 15-yard face mask penalty on Jadeveon Clowney in the divisional round.
Snap counts
Sternberger played 60 snaps on offense (6.0 percent) and another 48 on special teams (11.0 percent) during the regular season. He was on the field for 39 offensive snaps and 16 special teams snaps during the playoffs. His 28 offensive snaps played against the Seahawks in the divisional round were a season-high.
Best game
FIRST CAREER TD‼️ ❄️❄️❄️#NFLAggies ✖️ #NFLPlayoffs @_Jstern | #GigEm
pic.twitter.com/LpErtbcs3e— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) January 20, 2020
NFC Championship Game against the 49ers. Sternberger played only 11 snaps but caught two passes for 13 yards and his first career touchdown. On the score, Sternberger shook free from 49ers linebacker Fred Warner along the back of the end zone and created a throwing window for Aaron Rodgers as he scrambled to his right. The 8-yard touchdown was the final touchdown of the Packers’ 2019 season.
Worst game
Week 14 against the Redskins. Sternberger learned a lesson when he didn’t sit down and give Rodgers the right throwing lane on a scramble play. Sternberger kept running and Rodgers’ throw ended up behind him in the end zone. The rookie dropped it. Earlier in the game, Sternberger ran a deep wheel route and was wide open, but Rodgers took off and ran for 17 yards.
Season recap, future outlook
It was a quiet regular season for Sternberger, who not only dealt with a pair of summer injuries but also the steep learning curve for a young NFL player at the tight end position. He suffered a concussion and jaw injury after taking a dirty hit during the joint practices against the Houston Texans in early August and then injured his ankle in the preseason and eventually ended up on injured reserve. He returned in November. At least twice, he was open downfield for a big play but wasn’t seen. More impressively, Sternberger gave terrific effort and looked capable as a multi-positional blocker. The Texas A&M product entered the NFL as a passing game threat. Over a limited sample size as a rookie, he showed he can line up at inline tight end, H-back and even fullback and contribute as a blocker. The Packers like his potential as a matchup problem at several positions. Sternberger’s combination of athleticism, receiving potential, toughness and versatility give him a real shot at being a breakout player for the Packers in 2020.
Season grade
Sternberger’s impact in 2019 was minimal, but an injury robbed him of the first half of the year and rookies rarely provide instant impact at this level, so he’ll get a pass here. The most exciting part of his rookie season was the foundation he laid as a versatile player who can mix it up and get the job done as a blocker. Expect Matt LaFleur and the offense to fully integrate his skillset into the scheme in 2020. Grade: C+
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