In addition to releasing OLB Chauncey Manac, the Packers also released OL Ty Clary before Sunday’s practice and Tuesday’s roster deadline.
In addition to releasing outside linebacker Chauncey Manac, the Green Bay Packers also released offensive lineman Ty Clary before Sunday’s practice and Tuesday’s roster deadline.
Clary played just seven total snaps – six at left guard, one at right guard – over the Packers’ two preseason games.
Clary’s top position is center, but Jake Hanson and Michal Menet have played all the backup snaps behind starter Josh Myers at center during the preseason.
All teams must be to 80 players by Tuesday afternoon. By releasing Manac and Clary, the Packers are down to 83.
The Packers signed Clary on July 26. The rookie undrafted free agent out of Arkansas was previously with the Miami Dolphins. He made 39 career starts in college over five seasons.
Clary joins wide receiver Osirus Mitchell, who is also expected to sign with the Packers on Tuesday. The team officially signed Dallin Leavitt on Monday.
Clary, an undrafted free agent from Arkansas, signed with the Miami Dolphins but was waived with a failed physical due to his recovery from shoulder surgery, per Tessler.
Clary played in 47 games and made 39 starts for the Razorbacks. He started games at left guard, center and right guard, giving him the type of multi-position versatility that the Packers typically covet along the offensive line. Clary also has experience at right tackle, but he is likely a guard or center at the next level.
General manager Brian Gutekunst must see a need for interior depth, or the team is swapping interior offensive linemen on the roster before the start of training camp.
With Clary and Mitchell coming, the Packers will need to release two players or clear two roster spots to make room on the 90-man roster. The first practice of training camp is Wednesday.
The Dolphins continued to make roster moves during rookie minicamp.
Over the weekend, the Miami Dolphins held rookie minicamp for their first-year players as well as a number of guys who were trying out for the team.
Before the three days of training started, the team announced that they had signed 14 undrafted free agents, including center Ty Clary. However, on Saturday, Miami waived Clary due to a failed physical and signed second-year offensive lineman Cole Banwart to fill his spot on the roster.
Banwart went undrafted in 2021 after a collegiate career at Iowa where he earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans following the draft but was cut at the start of the season. He also spent time with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings’ practice squads during his rookie season.
With Clary having potentially been in the battle for the backup center spot, Banwart could get some looks there.
Arkansas isn’t going to lose to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday inside War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The game is considered more of a break for a Razorbacks team that needs it.
Still, there is some amount of intrigue as Arkansas has some positions with which to tinker because of injury.
Is Dalton Wagner going to be back from his finger injury? Can Joe Foucha be a leader in the Arkansas secondary? Will another, underused player step to the fore against the FCS team?
Plenty of questions and while none of them may carry a ton of weight against the Golden Lions, they could provide clues for how Arkansas finishes its final four games after.
With that in mind, here are the four players, including two from Pine Bluff, we will be keeping an eye on Saturday.
Arkansas RT Ty Clary
Aug 31, 2019; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman Ty Clary (66) blocks Portland State Vikings defensive tackle Anthony Del Toro (98) during the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Is Ty Clary the semi-permanent answer at right tackle?
Coach Sam Pittman has called the fifth-year senior his most versatile lineman. He also declined to start Clary until injuries pressed him into action. Clary will get at least one more start (barring something odd) at right tackle as usual starter Dalton Wagner is expected to miss the game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
But Wagner should be back for Mississippi State two weeks from Saturday, after Arkansas’ bye. Clary could continue playing super-sub or he could play well enough to continue to earn starts.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff RB Kierre Crossley
Crossley, a Texas native, began his career at FCS Central Arkansas. With the Bears, he led the team in yards rushing as a freshman. Now, having transferred down the road to the southeast, he’s doing the same with UAPB.
Crossley leads the Golden Lions with 252 yards and five touchdowns. As the Pine Bluff is more of a running team than a passing one, expect a healthy dose of Crossley on Saturday.
Arkansas S Joe Foucha
Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (2) runs for a first down while being pursued by Arkansas defensive back Joe Foucha (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
With fellow safety and Preseason All-American Jalen Catalon out for the season, the back of the Arkansas defense will be led by Foucha. He’s fifth on the team in tackles with 41 and has four tackles for-loss and two pass break-ups.
Foucha has been a solid, if unspectacular player, for most of the last couple seasons with the Razorbacks. More will be thrust upon him now, though, as the Razorbacks attempt to turn things around in the second half of the year without their star.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff LB Monroe Beard III
The sophomore linebacker from Tennessee has been a borderline All-SWAC player this season. He leads the Golden Lions in tackles, tackles for-loss, sacks and forced fumbles.
Even on a bad team by SWAC standards, Beard has been a good player. He could still put up good numbers against the Razorbacks, as such.
“It went out on him and they couldn’t get it back in place,” Pittman said. “He had surgery on that finger this morning. His status is not going to be available for a while.”
Fifth-year senior Ty Clary actually started for Wagner at the spot in the Ole Miss game. Wagner had been dealing with an injury, an undisclosed injury, before the game with the Rebels, which led to Clary’s start. He had started the previous five games at the spot.
Luke Jones, who was in consideration for the starting job at right guard during fall camp, is the likeliest candidate to be Clary’s back-up at right tackle now.
The No. 19 Razorbacks (4-2, 1-2) and Tigers (4-2, 1-1) are scheduled to kickoff at 11 a.m. CT from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday.
