Tag: Jared Veldheer

Colts elevate OT Jared Veldheer, WR Ethan Fernea for Week 16

The Colts elevated two players from the practice squad for Week 16.

The Indianapolis Colts elevated offensive tackle Jared Veldheer and wide receiver Ethan Fernea from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of the Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced Saturday.

Veldheer was signed to the practice squad on Dec. 11, coming out of retirement. He last played for the Colts in 2020 when he started the wild-card game at left tackle.

With Braden Smith (knee) out for a third consecutive game, the expectation is that rookie Blake Freeland will be the starter again. Veldheer will provide some depth at both tackle spots.

Fernea gets another elevation for the second week in a row after he was signed to the practice squad at the beginning of December. He will likely contribute on special teams.

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Colts to sign OT Jared Veldheer to practice squad

The Colts are bringing OT Jared Veldheer back to the practice squad.

The Indianapolis Colts are signing offensive tackle Jared Veldheer to the practice squad, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Monday.

Veldheer worked out for the Colts on Friday, and he last played in the NFL for Indy during the 2020 season. He was elevated from the practice squad and started the wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills, a game the Colts lost 27-24.

After reverting back to the practice squad, the Green Bay Packers signed him to their active roster for their divisional-round playoff game the following week. He was in line to be the first player ever to start two postseason games with different teams.

However, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to play in that game. Veldheer retired from the league for a third time during the 2021 offseason after he was suspended six games for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy, which he said was caused by a prescription.

The Colts are dealing with another Braden Smith injury, which forced him to miss the Week 14 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie Blake Freeland stepped in Sunday, starting his seventh game of the season.

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Former Broncos OL Jared Veldheer is now a school cook

Pretty cool! Former #Broncos offensive lineman Jared Veldheer is now a school cook.

It is important to keep in mind that when a professional athlete retires, they are usually in their late 20s or their early 30s. Many rely on their college education, or in the case of former Broncos offensive linemen Jared Veldheer, you can parlay your passion for nutrition to be a school cook.

Veldheer spent 11 years in the NFL before retiring for good in May of 2021. He spent four years each with the then-Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals before one season with the Broncos 2018 followed by short stints with the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers.

It appears from watching NFL Films chronicle his journey from lineman to school cook that Veldheer is making his biggest impact in influencing school children to eat nutritionally-healthy foods.

So, while many school cooks are not 6’8 and former NFL players, check out how Veldheer made that transition to the cafeteria below. It’s never too late to make an impact with our youth.

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Former Packers OL Jared Veldheer retiring from NFL after suspension

The former Packers offensive lineman is retiring from the NFL after being suspended for six games by the league.

Former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jared Veldheer, who was with the team during playoff runs each of the last two years, is retiring from the NFL.

Veldheer told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network that he is retiring from the game after the NFL suspended him six games for using a banned substance.

Veldheer, who turns 34 years old next month, said he was prescribed a medication that triggered the suspension.

Veldheer played in two regular-season games and two postseason games with the Packers during the 2019 season. He returned during the playoffs in 2020 but ended up on the COVID-19 reserve list and didn’t appear in a game.

With an expiring contract, Veldheer was an unrestricted free agent.

Veldheer saved the Packers late in the 2019 season, replacing starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga in the second half of a Week 17 win over the Detroit Lions and again in the NFC Divisional Round against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Oakland Raiders made Veldheer a third-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft. He played in 121 regular-season games (114 starts) and six playoff games during his career.

Former Cardinals OL Jared Veldheer suspended 6 games but is retiring

The suspension won’t matter as he has decided to retire again and he hasn’t signed with a team before December the last two seasons anyway.

The Arizona Cardinals dealt away tackle Jared Veldheer in 2018 to the Denver Broncos. Since then he has retired and come out of retirement the last two years to play late in the season and in the postseason.

It does not look like he will be playing again.

ESPN’s Field Yates reported Veldheer has been suspended by the NFL for the first six games of the season. That would be presumably for a violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Veldheer released a statement on the suspension, shared by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, also noting he has retired from the NFL, so the suspension will not matter.

Veldheer had already decided to retire and was taking a prescription to increase his testosterone levels. He notes the need for the treatment comes from his time in the NFL playing football.

Veldheer did not play until December of the last two seasons, so even if he were to decide to unretire again, the suspension would have passed.

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5 free agent OTs the Colts should consider in 2021

OTs the Colts should consider in free agency.

The Indianapolis Colts have big needs to fill this offseason and one of the most important positions they can address in free agency is left tackle.

After the retirement of Anthony Castonzo, the Colts are in a bit of a bind. They could draft one early in the 2021 NFL draft or look to a cheaper option in free agency. It is unlikely they bring in a big name from free agency given the extensions they will need to dish out this offseason.

Going the cheaper route might be more beneficial seeing as the Colts can get away with average left tackle play. Getting a Trent Williams type won’t be feasible with the massive extensions coming up. So we won’t be listing players like Taylor Moton or Russell Okung, who should get consideration in the event the Colts decide to spend.

Here are five offensive tackles the Colts should consider in free agency:

Tramon Williams, Jared Veldheer miss out on NFL postseason history

Neither player became the first in NFL history to play in a postseason game with two different teams.

Both Tramon Williams and Jared Veldheer had a chance to make NFL history with the Green Bay Packers during the postseason, but it didn’t happen for either veteran player.

Williams, who played for the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, and Veldheer, who played for the Indianapolis Colts in the wild card round, were both added to the Packers’ roster after losing playoff games in the AFC. Williams was signed after being waived by the Ravens, while Veldheer was claimed off the Colts’ practice squad.

Both players could have become the first player in NFL history to play a postseason game for two different teams in the same season. Alas, neither saw the field for the Packers.

Veldheer was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list a day after arriving in Green Bay and couldn’t play against the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Williams, who signed to the Packers’ practice squad last week, was elevated to the gameday roster for the NFC Championship Game, but he didn’t play a single snap despite being active.

It’s unclear if Veldheer would have been a starting option at offensive tackle or if he was added simply for depth behind Billy Turner and Rick Wagner. Williams, who had just days to prepare for the NFC Championship Game, was clearly an emergency option behind the starters in the secondary.

Both Veldheer and Williams got a chance to be along for the ride, even if it ended one game short of the Super Bowl.

Packers place OT Jared Veldheer on COVID-19 reserve list

The Packers won’t have their new offensive tackle on Saturday against the Rams.

The newest addition to the Green Bay Packers roster is no longer available.

According to the league’s transaction wire, the Packers placed offensive tackle Jared Veldheer on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday.

Veldheer, who was signed off of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad on Tuesday, didn’t practice with the Packers on Wednesday due to the positive test. The Packers listed him as a non-participant on the injury report due to a non-injury related issue.

According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, the Packers cleared through the contact tracing part of the league’s protocols, meaning no other players have to join Veldheer on the reserve list.

The worry now for Matt LaFleur’s team is any other players testing positive between now and Saturday’s playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Veldheer, who played in two games for the Packers last season, returned to Green Bay after playing in the Colts’ playoff game against the Buffalo Bills last Saturday. Because he was on the Colts’ practice squad, Veldheer was eligible to sign with the Packers.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Veldheer would provide valuable depth along the offensive line, particularly behind presumed starters Billy Turner and Rick Wagner at offensive tackle. That idea is now dashed.

With only three days before kickoff, Veldheer will miss Saturday’s game against the Rams but could be ready for the NFC Championship Game if the Packers beat the Rams.

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In weird twist, Bills could face one player twice in postseason

Jared Veldheer could face the Buffalo Bills twice this postseason.

When the Bills beat the Colts 27-24, Jared Veldheer was sent packing with the losing team.

But in a weird twist of fate… he could be on Buffalo’s radar in the future again…

The 33-year-old offensive tackle was signed by, and practiced with, the Packers already this week.

Huh?

So here’s what happened.

The Colts only recently signed Veldheer to their practice squad in late December. He was talked out of retirement. Due to injury, he was called up from the Colts’ practice squad and started against the Bills. Practice squad callups were made available to teams in the league this season to help deal with COVID-19.

But because he was a callup and technically still on their practice squad, he was able to be signed by another team after losing and the Packers came calling, again, due to injury.

The Packers lost left tackle David Bakhtiari to a torn ACL in practice leading up to Week 17. Currently the Packers have Billy Turner and Rick Wagner playing their tackle spots, but according to Packers Wire, Veldheer will add top-level depth. Wagner’s also dealt with a knee injury recently.

So all things considered, the Bills could actually face Veldheer on the field twice in the same playoffs… if the Bills and Packers meet in the Super Bowl.

Veldheer already will likely set history by playing for two different teams in one postseason, but then would also be the first player to face the same team twice in the NFL postseason if that Super Bowl were to happen. Interestingly enough, Veldheer was talked out of retirement last season as well and ended up playing in the 2019 postseason with the Packers.

Veldheer is also able to play with the Packers because he had passed the Colts’ COVID-19 protocol last weekend prior to facing the Bills.

Of course, we’re still a far cry from the Bills becoming involved in this story, but hey, you never know.

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Green Bay Packers signee Jared Veldheer could make NFL history

Jared Veldheer is on the verge of making NFL history by signing with the Packers

The Green Bay Packers have signed offensive tackle Jared Veldheer.

That would be the same Jared Veldheer who played for the Indianapolis Colts in the recently completed Wild-Card round of the NFL playoffs.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports if Veldheer plays for the Packers against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, he would become the first player in NFL history to play for two teams in the same postseason.

Veldheer spent two games with the Packers in 2019.

The Packers have been shorthanded on the offensive line because David Bakhtiari to a torn ACL. Bakhtiari, who has been named first-team All-Pro once and second-team three times, sustained the injury in practice on the last day of 2020.