Report: Packers Bring in Former Wisconsin TE Jacob Pedersen for Tryout
The Packers still have room on their practice squad to add a player.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com:
GB tryouts WR Jeremy Gallon Mich DT AJ Pataiali'i Utah St TE Jacob Pedersen UW WR Eric Thomas Troy RB Dom Williams Wagner LBChris Young ASU
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 6, 2014
Fans in Wisconsin may be familiar with tight end Jacob Pedersen, who played his college football with the in-state Badgers.
Over the course of his college career, Pedersen caught 104 passes for 1,394 yards and 17 touchdowns.
As a junior, Pedersen was named as the Big Ten's Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year while earning first-team all-conference by the league's coaches.
During his senior season, Pedersen received concensus All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Pedersen signed as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons, playing in all four preseason games but caught just two passes for 24 yards. He checks in at 6-5 and 240 lbs.
The recent release of Ryan Taylor might indicate the Packers would be willing to add depth at tight end, although they already have Justin Perillo at the position on the practice squad.
On Monday, the Packers officially added cornerback Tay Glover-Wright and reportedly added offensive lineman Jordan McCray to the practice squad, presumably leaving just one more spot open.
Among the other Packers tryouts, Gallon had a memorable career at the University of Michigan, finishing as the program's all-time leader for receiving yards in a single season (1,373) and the conference record for receiving yards in a single game (369).
Gallon was also a return specialist. He measures in at just 5-8, 185 lbs.
A seventh round draft pick of the New England Patriots, Gallon played in just two preseason games, returning one punt for five yards.
Comments (8)
NickPerry
October 06, 2014 at 09:36 pm
As I've watched Owen Daniels catch 19 passes for 183 yards and 2 TD's, I can't understand why Ted let him out of the building without signing him. He'd have been great for Richard Rodgers to learn from and I know he can't be any worse of a blocker than those on the roster now.
White92
October 07, 2014 at 10:23 am
You know, I couldn't really figger this one out either. He seemed like a real good fit.
Can I still hope for a return of Finley?
NewNikeShoes
October 06, 2014 at 10:30 pm
is jacob pedersen a good blocker?
Rodney Lawler
October 06, 2014 at 10:51 pm
He was at Wisconsin and a great run blocker pretty decent hands not many drops .And good at getting up there in goal line plays.
RCPackerFan
October 07, 2014 at 06:41 am
The guy that intrigues me is Gallon. He is smaller and not explosive fast, but he is quick and just is a really good football player.
L
October 07, 2014 at 10:42 am
Here's the word on Pataiali'i; someone who I think the Packers should strongly consider signing given their need for healthy D-line depth.
(copy & pasted from a May 13 sleeper watch report)
Pataiali'i was a priority free agent, garnering interest from multiple teams shortly after the 2014 draft concluded. Pataiali'i ran the 40-yard dash in 5.09 seconds and bench pressed 225 pounds 29 times at his Pro Day. He had 42 tackles, 3.5 for losses and one sack last season, including a career-high seven tackles against Wyoming. According to a league source, Pataiali'i had at least three suitors vying for him to join their off-season rosters. The Ravens offered a nice deal and and now he's a part of their organization, ready for this weekend's rookie mini-camp.
Pataiali'i is a zero- and one-technique lineman first, and that's where the Ravens want to see him work at. He's already a big body at 6-3, 311 pounds, though he could probably stand to gain some weight if he's going to primarily play the nose tackle position.
That said, he's athletic enough to play the three-technique and five-technique spots in a 3-4 defense. In fact, two teams were interested in Pataiai'i as a three-technique lineman. He has a 31.5-inch vertical jump and can reportedly dunk a basketball behind his head, all extremely athletic traits for someone his size.
Out of high school, Pataiali'i had the option of playing college basketball at Colorado State, but grades were an issue. He wound up at Snow College, a junior college in Ephraim, Utah, which is a place that has sent a lot of D-1 football prospects on after a couple of seasons. Two years after heading to Snow College, Utah State came calling and offered Pataiali'i a spot.
Though there's a lot to like about Pataiali'i, the defensive tackle position group does appear loaded right now. The Ravens just drafted Timmy Jernigan, who can either play the nose or three-technique, and Brent Urban, who seems suited for the five-technique. 2013 third-round pick Brandon Williams is also a nose-tackle and three-technique lineman.
Then there's Haloti Ngata and Terrence Cody at the nose tackle spot, making it a crowded unit right now. But both of those players' long-term futures are uncertain at this time, which could be one reason why the Ravens are looking to stock up at the position right now.
While Pataiali'i may not be someone to immediately look for in 2014, he could be a sleeper that gradually comes along in his NFL development, with the potential down the road to earn a spot with this team.
(Transaction reports on A.J. Pataiaili'i)
On Aug. 30th 2014 the Ravens made their final roster cuts in order to get down to a 53-man roster; rookie defensive tackle A.J. Pataiali'i was one of the final roster cuts.
On Aug. 31st 2014 the Ravens signed A.J. Pataiali'i to their practice squad.
On Sept. 4th 2014 the Ravens cut rookie defensive tackle A.J. Pataiali'i to create a spot for LB Josh Bynes on their 10-man practice squad.
On Sept. 22nd 2014 the Ravens re-signed rookie defensive tackle A.J. Pataiali'i to their practice squad.
As far as I can tell A.J. Pataiali'i is still on the Ravens practice squad so if the Packers do intend on signing him they'd have to move Luther Robinson back to the PS and sign A.J. Pataiali'i to their 53-man roster (I believe).
Here's a clip highlighting A.J. Pataiali'i's athleticism, as Pataiali'i showcases a 46-inch box jump at the very end of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDljN_UwXpM
Packer_Pete
October 07, 2014 at 02:44 pm
he's not on the Ravens PS anymore. I just looked on the Ravens website and they have 10 players on PS, but he is not among those. Must have made a move recently. That's why he's in for a tryout. I don't think players go for tryouts if they are on another teams PS. But I may be wrong. Seems intriguing, though.
L
October 07, 2014 at 04:13 pm
Your right; I found the transaction wire for his release being on 9/26/14. The Ravens added a WR to their PS and dropped him.
Well, that makes it that much better as he can be signed directly to the practice squad; though, I imagine the team will check him out thoroughly for any potential injury that he may have suffered being on the Ravens' practice squad.
Here are some other candidates who I wonder if the Packers will bring in for a workout evaluation due to either being released from other team's practice squads this year or were on a practice squad last year.
DT Joe Vellano - a 2nd year player (I believe) who was released from the Patriots 53-man roster on 10/6/14 so they could sign WR Brian Tyms to the 53-man roster. It's expected that Vellano gets resigned to their PS.
NT Hebron Fangupo - was released from the Redskins PS on 9/30/14 so they could sign another player (NT Robert Thomas - someone they cut less than a week prior).
NT Bruce Gaston - was released from the Cardinals PS on 9/20/14. No obvious reason why.
DT Derrick Hopkins - was released from the Redskins PS on 9/16/14 so they could sign another player (DT Hebron Fangupo).
DT Garrison Smith - was released from the Dolphins PS on 9/06/14. No obvious reason why.
DT Brandon Moore - a would-be 2nd year player who faced a 4-game substance abuse suspension this year so he didn't get signed anywhere. he might be worth looking into if the suspension doesn't affect him any longer due to the new drug policy.
Btw, I didn't know until now that J.Worthy is on the Kansas City Chiefs' PS. I guess the Patriots didn't want him either.