The Green Bay Packers have activated rookie offensive lineman J.C. Tretter from the physically unable to perform list. In order to do so, they placed receiver Myles White on injured reserve.
Tretter began practicing four weeks ago and the Packers must have liked what they saw from the fourth-round draft pick. Tretter broke his ankle during OTAs and missed all of the team’s offseason activities.
He played tackle in college, but is most likely to play guard or center for the Packers. That could give the team some flexibility.
Center Evan Dietrich-Smith has been injured numerous times this season. That prompted the Packers to move right guard T.J. Lang to center and then insert the craptacular Marshall Newhouse — and later undrafted rookie Lane Taylor — into the lineup somewhere.
If Tretter is up to speed, then the Packers might finally have a legit backup at center.
When asked if he saw Tretter as a solution in the middle, offensive line coach James Campen said this.
“Yes, I do. He’s also been a tackle and a guard. We have some flexibility with him obviously.”
So what’s wrong with Myles White is the other question?
Well, probably nothing. He was shelved with an “undisclosed injury.”
White played against Atlanta and caught one pass for five yards. Since being brought up from the practice squad in early November, White has nine catches for 66 yards.
He obviously hasn’t been a big contributor, but the move leaves the Packers with just four receivers on the active roster. Rookie Chris Harper, a pickup earlier this season, is the fourth.
Harper has played in two games, but doesn’t have a catch.
You can read that however you want, but it’s probably likely the Packers want to get a look at Harper, a fourth-round pick by Seattle this year, on offense. It also means they probably don’t think White is able to contribute.
On another note, only teams with no shot to make the playoffs are in evaluation mode at this point in the season…