Tag: Jared Veldheer

The Green Bay Packers have offensive tackle Jared Veldheer in the building and ready to practice on Tuesday, and coach Matt LaFleur believes the veteran – who played in two big games for the Packers last season – can add valuable depth along the offensive line.

The Packers signed Veldheer after his stint on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad ended this past week.

“You can never have enough great players, and Jared is a guy who we definitely hold in high regard. It definitely adds depth to that room, which you can’t have enough of,” LaFleur said.

Veldheer replaced right tackle Bryan Bulaga in both Week 17 and the NFC Divisional Round last season, including a start against the Seattle Seahawks in the postseason.

This past Saturday, Veldheer started at left tackle for the Colts after being a gameday elevation from the practice squad. He was eligible to join the Packers after the Colts lost to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Round.

LaFleur isn’t certain how much Veldheer can contribute right away, but he does have experience in the offense from last season, helping expedite the process of getting back up to speed in Green Bay.

“We have to wait and see, see how much recall he has from last year. He just played in a game this weekend in a totally different offense. We’ll try to get him acclimated and welcome him back as soon as possible,” LaFleur said.

The Packers could use Veldheer, who has over 100 career starts, as a backup behind Billy Turner, who replaced David Bakhtiari (injured reserve) at left tackle, and Rick Wagner, the new starter at right tackle. Wagner was on the injury report in Week 17 with a knee injury but played through the issue.

The Packers host the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday at Lambeau Field.

[lawrence-related id=54742,54733,54730]

The new practice squad rules for the 2020 season provided an opportunity for the Green Bay Packers to add valuable insurance and options at offensive tackle for the playoff run.

Jared Veldheer, who became available as a free agent after playing in two games as a practice squad elevation for the Indianapolis Colts, will sign with the Packers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Veldheer wasn’t on the Colts’ 53-man roster and became eligible to sign with any team after Indianapolis lost to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. New rules this season allowed teams to sign veterans to the practice squad, and all players on the practice squad were allowed two elevations to the gameday roster.

The Packers, in need of depth at offensive tackle after losing David Bakhtiari to a season-ending injury, jumped at the opportunity to add veteran help at a key position once Veldheer’s stint on the Colts practice squad officially ended.

Veldheer started at left tackle in place of Anthony Castonzo for the Colts in both Week 17 and the AFC Wild Card Round. Last season, Veldheer arrived in Green Bay in December and played a vital role as a backup behind Bryan Bulaga at right tackle. He played in two games, once as a replacement for Bulaga in Week 17 at Detroit and once as a starter for Bulaga during the NFC Divisional Round against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers now have options. In Week 17, coach Matt LaFleur decided to have Billy Turner play left tackle and Rick Wagner play right tackle. Turner can also play either guard spot, and Wagner is still dealing with a knee injury. LaFleur is always attempting to find his best starting five, especially given all the versatility in his offensive line room, and Veldheer adds another variable to the mix. Should he want to shuffle the line, or either Turner or Wagner suffer an injury, LaFleur now has an experienced offensive tackle option in Veldheer who can play either side of the line and knows the offense.

This is the kind of signing that could make the difference between being one-and-done and a Super Bowl run. Protecting the quarterback is vital in all games but especially the postseason, where just one bad play – or one bad injury – could torpedo a season.

Veldheer played two full games at left tackle for the Colts and didn’t give up a sack. Even at age 33 and without playing during the first 15 weeks of the season, he held up just fine at a key position in big games.

The Packers will now go into Saturday’s divisional round showdown with the Los Angeles Rams with three experienced offensive tackles they can trust, including two – Veldheer and Turner – who can likely play both left and right tackle. Most teams, even some playoff teams, don’t have two quality options at offensive tackle. The Packers have three, and that’s not even counting the five-time All-Pro on injured reserve.

Counting Veldheer, GM Brian Gutekunst has now added three veterans over the last month – including Tavon Austin and Snacks Harrison – capable of playing key roles and helping the Packers make a Super Bowl run. Losing Bakhtiari still hurts, but adding Veldheer certainly lessens the blow.

OT Jared Veldheer, who started for the Colts' on Saturday, is now signing with the Packers, per source.

Veldheer will be the first player in NFL history to play two postseason games for two playoff teams. He is allowed to sign with GB because he was on the Colts' practice squad.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 11, 2021

The Green Bay Packers are adding veteran help at offensive tackle by bringing back a familiar face before beginning their playoff run.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Packers are signing Jared Veldheer, who started at left tackle for the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wild Card Round on Saturday and also started a playoff game at right tackle for Green Bay last January.

Veldheer, now 33, was on the Colts’ practice squad and became eligible to sign with any team after the Colts lost to the Buffalo Bills. He was elevated twice by the Colts, in Week 17 and the AFC Wild Card Round, playing 146 total snaps in the two games.

Bringing back Veldheer provides another potential starting option at offensive tackle for the Packers, who host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round on Saturday. At the very least, his return gives the Packers extra insurance after losing left tackle David Bakhtiari to a season-ending knee injury.

In response to losing Bakhtiari, the Packers played Billy Turner at left tackle and Rick Wagner at right tackle against the Chicago Bears in the season finale. Veldheer could be the top backup to both in the playoffs, or a potential starter if Matt LaFleur wants to move Turner back to right guard.

The Packers originally claimed Veldheer off of waivers last December. He replaced Bryan Bulaga at right tackle in Week 17 and again in the NFC Divisional Round against the Seattle Seahawks. He started and played all 63 snaps in the win at Lambeau Field.

Veldheer has played in 121 career regular-season games and six playoff games. He was originally a third-round pick of the Raiders in 2010.

According to Schefter, Veldheer could become the first player in NFL history to play a postseason game with two different teams in the same year, a result of the new veteran practice squad rules in 2020.

[listicle id=54719]