Green Bay Packers: Tight End Depth Looking Thin

By Keegan Matheson | Aug 8, 2015

The Green Bay Packers are returning the majority of their dominant 2014 offense this training camp, leaving most of the August battles for depth positions. Second-year tight end Richard Rodgers is looking to separate from Andrew Quarless at tight end, but behind those two carryovers, the Green Bay Packers are still searching for answers.

Rookie Kennard Backman joined the Packers in round six of the 2015 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and as I wrote at the time, the tight end is a raw project that has no guarantees of a spot on the 53-man roster. My primary issue with Backman out of college was his great lack of experience and skill in pass blocking, which would leave him pigeonholed as a special teams player, but reports out of Packers’ camp also suggest he’s flashed some disappointing hands.

As one scribe in close proximity Jost said of #Packers TE Kennard Backman, "He can't catch a cold." Had another drop today.
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) August 7, 2015

Backman’s skill set may better fit an H-back role, similar to what the Packers once attempted (and failed) to implement with D.J. Williams. Beyond him in training camp, there is 2014 holdover Justin Perillo and free agent rookie Mitchell Henry out of Western Kentucky.

More from Green Bay Packers

Henry doesn’t profile as a terribly athletic pass-catcher himself, but in the past, we’ve seen head coach Mike McCarthy value special teams contributions from the third tight end. Perhaps more than any position on this entire offense, the third tight end spot will be won and lost during preseason games beginning next Thursday against the New England Patriots. That is, if there is a third tight end.

Aug 3, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Andrew Quarless practice during training camp at Ray Nitschke Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Beginning the season with just two tight ends on the roster would be unexpected, and perhaps it’s not ideal, but this is something I feel the Packers have the luxury of considering. If McCarthy is able to find special teams contributions from elsewhere on the roster, the club could roll with Rodgers and Quarless quite comfortably, assuming both are healthy and Quarless is behaving.

Keep in mind that this organization began a season with three fullbacks in the not-so-distant past, and in fact, their 2015 fullbacks could help to support the thin tight end group. John Kuhn seems primed for another solid season while rookie Aaron Ripkowski is very likely to become the second fullback on the roster. With one of Kuhn or Ripkowski occupying blocking roles out of the backfield and contributing on special teams, this gives McCarthy some breathing room.

We’re getting ahead of ourselves in judging Backman this early, of course, and he’ll be a critical name to watch throughout the rest of camp and the preseason games. General manager Ted Thompson surely isn’t looking to have a sixth round pick miss the 53-man, but frankly, worse things have happened in the National Football League. Third-string tight end may not be the most buzz-worthy position on this roster, but for my dollar, it’s becoming the most interesting. If it even exists.

Next: Packers seeing Brett Hundley scratch the surface

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Green Bay Packers