After playing in just six games as a rookie, tight end Jace Sternberger will have the opportunity to play a much bigger role in the Packers’ offense in 2020. This offseason, Green Bay opted to release five-time Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham. The absence of Graham should allow Sternberger to become the primary pass-catching tight end for the Packers.
However, the former Texas A&M star’s sophomore season in Green Bay didn’t get off to the best start. While most of his teammates were beginning training camp, Sternberger was forced to sit out because he tested positive for COVID-19.
He spoke to reporters about his time on the COVID-19 reserve list.
“It was interesting me being one of the first players to test positive. I did have it,” Sternberger said on Sunday. “Fortunately, I didn’t really have any symptoms. The recovery process wasn’t as difficult as some of the other people who dealt with COVID. Green Bay did a great job of making sure that I was ready to get back.”
For a young player like Sternberger, practice reps are extremely important. Luckily, while he was on the COVID reserve list, the tight end was still able to use technology to participate in practice.
“Fortunately I was still able to sit in on the meetings through Zoom, so it was frustrating not being able to be out there, but at the same time, you don’t want to be somewhere when you are sick. I was just trying to be a good teammate and hammer in the details. It was frustrating but at the same time, you can only do so much at certain times.”
Sternberger didn’t get a ton of opportunities in his rookie season, but in the NFC Championship against the 49ers, he was able to catch his first career touchdown.
Thanks to that TD catch, Sternberger now comes into his second season with a lot of confidence.
“You play football to make the plays like that. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and I got the signal from Aaron. But that’s the one thing about being an athlete. I feel like everyone prepares to be in the situations, those moments. It definitely was a confidence boost. Kind of reassuring myself that I am here for a reason. It for sure gave me confidence going into the next season.”
Sternberger is talented as a pass-catcher, that much is undeniable. However, if he is going to become Green Bay’s number one option at tight end, he also needs to become a great blocker. Sternberger believes that he has become a much better blocker since he got in the NFL.
“I would say that I have drastically improved. You know, just with little things like technique. Today is a prime example of you can never be satisfied, you can always do more. It’s a learning thing for me every day. I’m not necessarily the biggest guy in our position room, so with me, my technique has to be second to none.”
The Packers have made it clear that they are counting on Sternberger to have a big year. While Davante Adams is still at the top of his game, Aaron Rodgers needs more reliable targets to throw to. In 2020, Sternberger could develop into exactly the player that Rodgers and the Green Bay offense missed last year.
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