Packers Add Ross, Vanderlin to Practice Squad, Welcome Back Quarless, Zombo
The Packers received additions to the practice squad and the practice field Wednesday afternoon.
By Zach Kruse
The Green Bay Packers signed two players to the practice squad and welcomed back two others from the PUP list to practice Wednesday.
Defensive end Drew Vanderlin and receiver Jeremy Ross were added to fill Green Bay's two vacant practice squad slots, while linebacker Frank Zombo (hamstring) and tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) were back at practice for the first time since being placed on the PUP list before the season.
Two spots on the practice squad were available after offensive lineman Greg Van Roten was activated to the 53-man roster and defensive end Lawrence Guy was claimed by the Indianapolis Colts.
Vanderlin (6-3, 288 lbs.), a graduate of Green Bay Southwest High School and an undrafted free agent out of Michigan Tech, was present during the Packers' rookie tryout camp in April. He finished his career at Michigan Tech second-all time in sacks with 20. He will wear No. 97.
Ross (6-0, 215), second all-time at the University of California in punt return average, worked out for the Packers before the 2011 NFL draft. He was later signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots, then spent the final 13 games of the 2011 season on the Colts practice squad. Ross will wear No. 10.
Both Zombo and Quarless began the three-week process for coming off the PUP list. The Packers now have that time window to decide whether to activate, cut or place the two on season-ending injured reserve. The same goes for offensive tackle Derek Sherrod (leg), who was not back at practice and is considered behind both Zombo and Quarless medically speaking.
In other practice news, receiver Greg Jennings (groin), linebacker Nick Perry (knee), cornerback Sam Shields (shin) and nose tackle B.J. Raji (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice. Tight end D.J. Williams (hamstring), safety Sean Richardson (hamstring) and running back Johnny White (recently acquired) were able to practice.
Comments (27)
October 17, 2012 at 01:42 pm
Does anyone else get the feeling that only 1 of the 3 might make it back on the active roster?
I feel that only Quarless will make it back. Unless there is another injury, I get the feeling that Zombo will be released, and Sherrod will be put on IR.
October 17, 2012 at 02:36 pm
Nope, I fully disagree. LB depth is our biggest problem right now; Walden looked horrible this past week against the Texans. We already have lots of depth at TE.
October 18, 2012 at 11:19 am
I think Sherrod goes on IR, but I think both Zombo and Quarless get activated - assuming they practice well. Quarless was just coming into his own last year before his injury. He showed some great blocking ability - both pass protection and downfield blocking. He also seemed to hold onto a few more balls than when he started in 2010. I think he could be a very competent replacement to Finley if he can continue where he left off last season.
October 17, 2012 at 01:44 pm
Am i the only person not worried about Raji returning? I mean i know we all like the guy and will never forget his epic pic6, but i just dont know hoe many plays he really makes. I know hes supposed to stop the run and not get alot of sacks n what not but we held one of the best rbs in the league to under 30 yards sunday! I dunno call me crazy i guess. Quarless is a beast can we say...tight end battle?
October 17, 2012 at 02:03 pm
As bad as Finley has been this year. He still draws the defense's attention, and is a match-up nightmare. Something Quarless is not.
October 17, 2012 at 02:14 pm
He isn't yet, but can be. He was just starting to emerge when he got hurt.
October 17, 2012 at 02:37 pm
Agreed. Quarless was looking really solid for us. I hope he can perform well enough to send Finley packing (maybe via trade) after the season.
October 17, 2012 at 02:44 pm
I just looked up their height/weight real quick cause I was curious.
NFL.com
Finley: 6'5", 247lbs, 4.67 40
Quarless at 6'4", 252 lbs, 4.68 40 (and a 4.57 at his pro day)
Those numbers obviously don't tell the whole story about a player, but it's interesting how similar they are.
October 17, 2012 at 04:38 pm
That, or maybe a battle for the starting job is what Finley needs to get that level of consistency we saw in 2009 and 2010 back in his game. If not, then maybe it is indeed time to move on.
But don't underestimate the power of athletes having to fight for their job. Look at even Joe Montana - he was being viewed as injury prone and past his prime when Walsh brought Steve Young to San Fran. And then, two more Super Bowl victories later, we know how much of a motivation job competition can be!
October 17, 2012 at 02:55 pm
That game had more to do with the Texans coming out passing and then getting into a big hole than it did the Packers just shutting down the run. A couple of short TD runs brings their average down, too. The Packers played well, no doubt, but it was more because they took away the stretch play and cleaned up the backside very well.
October 17, 2012 at 02:00 pm
Just like Clay Matthews in 2011, I don't think Raji's stats tell the whole story. Taking a double team up the middle frees up other lineman to make the tackle. The Packers are lucky to actually have reserve NT's this year to give him the rest he needs.
October 17, 2012 at 02:38 pm
Yes, stats don't tell the story, but how our defense looked against the Texans does. We played by far our best game against one of the NFL's elite offenses. Especially against the run... Where Raji is no good.
October 17, 2012 at 04:42 pm
He's not no good. I think what Raji needs to learn from Pickett is how to pick his plays to try and make a big play. Pickett was superb on Sunday because he held his spot on the line and executed his assignments very well.
However, you can't mean to tell me that Raji wouldn't have been even a step closer to dropping Foster than Pickett was on the two Houston TDs. Raji gets into trouble when he tries to split double teams play after play. He needs to do what Pickett does, play stout run defense for a few plays and then attack the double team every now and then.
Raji has the tools to be a superb 3-4 NT - we saw it in 2010. Don't sell out on BJ now.
October 17, 2012 at 05:29 pm
I don't think it's as much a "pick his play" as just that Pickett is unmovable, whereas Raji plays too high and can't archor that well.
Raji needs to show much more, right now he's not worth re-signing for a big price.
I'm really liking CJ and Worthy. Worthy has really surprised me against the run, the games I saw from him in college he would end up with his back to the blocker and get carried in the run game. Has been surprisingly stout and has kept his lane.
October 17, 2012 at 03:33 pm
CJ is turning into a pretty solid player.
October 17, 2012 at 04:43 pm
Yes he is. Dude is like a bigger Mike Daniels. He just keeps pushing the pocket. Also, Packers are perfect whenever he gets a sack!...though that's been only 3 games...
October 17, 2012 at 04:51 pm
Bummed about Lawrence Guy taken off the PS by Indy. I heard he was doing well on the scout teams and in general I always think it's nice to have depth at d-line, even if it's from the PS. Supposedly he had natural size and decent athleticism for the position.
Wonder if Quarless goes back on ST's. I imagine all the TE's play there except for Finley. Yet another reason....
October 17, 2012 at 05:22 pm
Quarless was looking fantastic before he got hurt. Best blocking TE on the team when the injury occurred imo. Oh, his hands aren't bad either.
GBP 4 LIFE
October 17, 2012 at 05:30 pm
Gods Gifts?
But, yeah, he was looking like a good all around TE.
If he can get back to that form, and if Finley doesn't improve, I think Finley's snaps will decrease.
October 17, 2012 at 09:01 pm
I went out and got those tats right after I saw AQ with em... I look SICK brah!
October 17, 2012 at 05:58 pm
Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves with Quarless. Still coming off of a catastrophic knee injury. It's possible he won't contribute much til late in the year.
October 17, 2012 at 09:03 pm
Totes.
October 17, 2012 at 06:24 pm
Are you packs Mack. Or pack smack? Enjoy your comments btw.
October 17, 2012 at 08:45 pm
Yeah i agree. Its not like he had a broken finger. It will definitely take some time for quarless. Hard to even speculate if he will be above williams or crabs. They have both contributed quite a bit lately.
October 18, 2012 at 11:03 am
Linebacker Nick Perry is out with a linebacker injury, that is all.
October 18, 2012 at 11:08 am
Is it time to start worrying about Derek Sherrod? Does anyone really know the status of his injury? I am assuming he will not be back this year and needs to have a very good off-season to make an impact next year.
October 18, 2012 at 11:24 am
Really a tough one to lose. I can't imagine TT is ready to give up on a first round pick quiet yet.