Packers place lineman on COVID-19 list days after signing with team
By Scott Rogust
Jared Veldheer won’t be the first NFL athlete to play on two playoff teams in a season after a positive COVID-19 test.
The Green Bay Packers will play in their first game this postseason on Saturday when they face the Los Angeles Rams. They’ll look to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010, but will have to do so without elite left tackle David Bakhtiari. The Packers signed Jared Veldheer to give Green Bay some offensive tackle depth with right tackle Rick Wagner dealing with a knee injury ahead of their Divisional Round matchup, but he won’t be able to play.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Packers placed Veldheer on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday after yielding a positive test result.
The Packers have placed recently signed OT Jared Veldheer on the COVID-19 list as a result of a positive test.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 13, 2021
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Veldheer was expected to make NFL history this weekend. The veteran offensive tackle would’ve been the first player to play for two different teams in the same playoffs. Veldheer was a member of the Indianapolis Colts this past weekend, who lost to the Buffalo Bills in a nail-biting loss in the Wild Card Round.
This isn’t Veldheer’s first stint in Green Bay, as he was claimed off waivers midway through the 2019 season after he declared his retirement with the New England Patriots. Veldheer actually filled in for Bryan Bulaga at right tackle during Green Bay’s Divisional Round win over the Seattle Seahawks.
While the Rams game is out of the question, Veldheer does have a chance to accomplish the historic feat if the Packers are able to reach Super Bowl 55. But that’s not important right now, Veldheer’s health is the priority.
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