Source: Veldheer to Packers after Colts WC start

01/12/2021

Covered Packers for Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1997-2013
Two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jared Veldheer saved the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs last year, and he could do it again this year — and would make NFL history in the process.

The veteran offensive tackle will sign with the Packers, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

Veldheer, 33, started at left tackle for the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday in their wild-card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens and would be the first player in NFL history to play postseason games for two different playoff teams in the same season if he appears in the Packers’ NFC divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.

He is allowed to sign with Green Bay because he was on the Colts’ practice squad and was only elevated for the Colts’ playoff game and not signed to the 53-man roster, and he should be allowed to practice immediately because was in the Colts’ COVID-19 testing program.

Veldheer started for the Packers at right tackle in last year’s NFC divisional playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks because of an illness to Bryan Bulaga. The Packers had lured Veldheer out of retirement and signed him in November of 2019.

The Colts had signed Veldheer out of another retirement to their practice squad last month.

The Packers lost left tackle David Bakhtiari to a torn ACL in practice leading up to the regular season finale. They started Billy Turner at left tackle in Bakhtiari’s place and put Rick Wagner at right tackle.

Veldheer most likely would serve as the top backup tackle for the playoffs, but Wagner has been dealing with a knee injury and didn’t take part in either of the practices during last week’s bye.

It’s also possible the Packers are considering starting Veldheer at one of the tackle spots and then moving Turner back to his primary position from last season, right guard – the spot that would be partially responsible for blocking Rams All-Pro defensive Aaron Donald.

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