The Packers will not have Jace Sternberger to start their season. The third-year tight end incurred a two-game suspension Thursday for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
This represents a critical setback for the former third-round pick. Sternberger has yet to make much of an impact with the Packers, who have since found a productive receiving tight end in UDFA Robert Tonyan. Green Bay also re-signed Marcedes Lewis this year.
A Texas A&M product, Sternberger missed a chunk of his rookie season after beginning it on IR. He ended up missing 10 games as a rookie. Last season, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher played in 12 contests and caught 12 passes. He was on the field for just 19% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps, however, with Tonyan (61%) and Lewis (41%) playing bigger roles.
Two seasons remain on Sternberger’s rookie contract, but this suspension will not help his chances of carving out a notable role in his third NFL season.
The only thing going for him at this point is that the Packers like to keep four tight ends on the active roster, otherwise he not even make the team with Tonyan and Lewis definitely ahead of him and last year’s third round pick Degura coming back from injury.
Agreed! He’s never been close to the player he was in college. No way he’ll get the 5th-year option on his rookie deal. I’d be shocked if he even sees the field this year.
He was a 3rd round pick, he doesn’t have a 5th year option.
Total bust
Crack is whack!
Dominique Dafney too seemed to outplay him late last year…