Packers Place Six Players on Injured Reserve, Including B.J. Raji

Others placed on I.R. were Jared Abbrederis, Don Barclay, Rajion Neal, Joe Thomas and Andrew Tiller.

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji by Benny Sieu—USA TODAY Sports.

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji by Benny Sieu—USA TODAY Sports.

In order to get their roster down to 75 players by the NFL-mandated deadline on Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers placed six players on injured reserve, including defensive lineman B.J. Raji.

The other five players are wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, offensive lineman Don Barclay, running back Rajion Neal, linebacker Joe Thomas and offensive lineman Andrew Tiller.

Raji tore his biceps in the team's last preaseason game against the Oakland Raiders.

After signing just a one-year contract in the offseason, Raji will hit free agency again in 2015 without having played a regular-season snap.

Abbrederis and Barclay were injured during practice earlier in training camp, both players tearing an ACL in their knee.

Undrafted rookies Neal and Thomas both sustained knee injuries in the Packers' first preseason game and haven't played or practiced since.

Tiller hurt his calf in the Packers' third preseason game against the Raiders as hasn't returned to practice this week.

With a preseason game on Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Packers appeared to want as many healthy bodies available for the game as possible.

If all players remain on injured reserve, they won't be able to practice with the team with the rest of the season, although they will be able to attend meetings and use team facilities for rehabilitation and strength and conditioning.

Raji, Abbrederis and Barclay are likely to remain on injured reserve, although it remains to be seen how the Packers deal with bubble players like Neal, Thomas and Tiller.

There is nothing preventing the Packers from waiving the players with an injury designation and coming to a settlement with them at a future date like they reportedly did with Colt Lyerla.

The cutdown date to 53 players is on Saturday Aug. 30.

UPDATE 5:44 p.m. CT: The NFL's transaction wire lists Neal, Thomas and Tiller as waived injured, indicating all three players are subject to waivers.

NFL teams have one day to place a claim on them and assume their contract previously signed with Green Bay.

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Comments (2)

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Clay Zombo's picture

August 26, 2014 at 06:33 pm

I was hoping by waiting till today they wouldn't have to expose them to waivers but apparently they have to get down to 75 and passed the deadline to IR them without waiving them.

Hope no one steals any of them, they can have TIller but leave the others alone please.

Wonder why Abbrederis and Barclay didn't have to be waived, neither guy is considered a Vet(4+ years in the league) so im a bit confused there, Can anyone enlighten me?

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Zola Davis's picture

August 27, 2014 at 10:21 am

I'm no expert, but I wonder if waiving them absolves them of responsibility for salary. If they put them back on practice squad, they can be signed for minimum. Seems lllike GBP like to save $K's anywhere they can. And that's not a bad thing.

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