Packers to Reportedly Sign Keenan Mace to Practice Squad
If accurate, this news would fall in line with wide receiver Tori Gurley being elevated to the Packers' 53-man roster.
The Green Bay Packers will reportedly sign defensive lineman Keenan Mace to the practice squad, according to Bo Marchionte of NFL Draft Bible.
Mace, himself, expressed a similar sentiment on his personal Twitter account, writing, "Looks like ill be off to the Packer within the next week (sic)."
The term "looks like," however, doesn't read particularly convincing.
If true, this news would fall in line with the report from AllGreenBayPackers.com that wide receiver Tori Gurley will be signed to the 53-man roster.
Gurley is currently on the practice squad, thus the opening for Mace.
Speculation making the rounds in social media circles is that rookie outside linebacker Vic So'oto will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a setback to his back injury he originally hurt at the beginning of the season. So'oto was held out of practice last week and did not play in Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Head coach Mike McCarthy was asked about any impending roster moves during his Monday press conference and said he didn't have any to report at the time, however, it could just be a case where the Packers were trying to dot their i's and cross their t's in transactions that involved three players.
Mace attended Lindenwood University and is 6-4, 307 pounds, according to a highlight video posted to YouTube, presumably by Mace (user name: KMace57LU). In an unusual situation, Mace played in 2007 and 2010 for Lindenwood but not 2008 and 2009.
The story behind the first-year professional continues to be even more unusual. According to a report from ESPNDallas, Mace was originally signed as an undrafted rookie by the Dallas Cowboys until the NFL disapproved his contract.
Mace played for the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League this past spring when the NFL was still under the lockout.
He apparently never petitioned the NFL to enter the draft early and had to go through the supplemental draft instead. He was never drafted in the supplemental draft.
A college highlight video on Mace...
Comments (8)
December 13, 2011 at 04:46 pm
Apparently hasn't been signed yet but the team will work him out. He just posted this on Twitter:
@KeenanMace
"Hey guys as i go workout for the Packer coaching staff please keep me in your prayers so that i make this team and get this chance to be with an amazing orginization"
December 13, 2011 at 06:09 pm
From his message he sounds intelligent and says the right stuff. In his video he sure seems to be a disruptive force at that level of play. I wish him luck and sure hope GB moves Gurley to the active roster before someone else nabs him, but why would a WR want to go anywhere else, but to GB?
December 13, 2011 at 06:39 pm
"why would a WR want to go anywhere else, but to GB?"
Opportunity and play time.
Green Bay could easily be considered a WR's worst nightmare. You have to be good enough to warrant the coaches taking Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, James Jones or Randall Cobb out of the game so they can put some other WR in.
It's a very tough squad to crack, and even if you make the final roster, you will not see nearly as much play time as you would on any other team in the NFL due to the quality depth.
December 13, 2011 at 06:48 pm
There was talk in the preseason of using Gurley as a tightend.
December 14, 2011 at 12:33 am
Opportunity and play time.
Green Bay could easily be considered a WR’s worst nightmare. You have to be good enough to warrant the coaches taking Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, James Jones or Randall Cobb out of the game so they can put some other WR in.
It’s a very tough squad to crack, and even if you make the final roster, you will not see nearly as much play time as you would on any other team in the NFL due to the quality depth
----------------------------------
What you say is true, BUT Gurley has been learning the Packer plays, associating with all these rcvrs, and have the best QB in the league throwing to you. Why then would you want to go to a team like Cleveland or the Chiefs with no QB? He is like a lighter version of Finley, but can catch the ball.
December 14, 2011 at 01:03 am
Is promoting Gurley a special teams move? I don't see the Packers needing another WR, especially with Jennings coming back for the playoffs.
December 14, 2011 at 03:12 am
More than likely, someone tried to sign him to their 53-man roster, so the Packers didn't want to lose him. That's the only thing I can think of.
December 14, 2011 at 03:52 am
Gurley signing spells retire for Mr. Driver.
Mace, meh, great plays, but never off of double team from what I can see. In TT we trust!