The Green Bay Packers have brought back a rookie tight end that, just over a month ago, they thought they’d lost for good. Mitchell Henry signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent this past offseason, but before the team was able to stash him on their practice squad ahead of final cuts, the Denver Broncos claimed him on waivers.
Packers signed TE Mitchell Henry to practice squad. Wonder if they would've put him on the 53, not Perillo, had he been available Wednesday.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 16, 2015
Losing Mitchell left more of a sting than your usual roster churning, as he flashed potential throughout training camp despite being limited by a broken finger. Standing 6’4″, 252 pounds, Mitchell was praised out of Western Kentucky for being a reliable receiver over the heart of the field, capable of hauling in difficult and contested passes.
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Recently, the Green Bay Packers have begun most seasons with four tight ends on their roster, largely for special teams purposes. They’ve continued on with three thus far in 2015, but an injury to Andrew Quarless has left them very thin. With Quarless ineligible to return until week 12, rookie sixth rounder Kennard Backman has overtaken the primary backup role with Justin Perillo filling in as the third-stringer. There’s potential in Backman, but he shouldn’t be near any meaningful snaps at this point.
Especially with a bye week upcoming and the limited competition ahead of him, it’s conceivable that Henry could push towards the active roster while Quarless recovers. This was one of the rookie free agents that I’d really had an eye on for a development spot on the practice squad, and Green Bay’s quick decision to bring him back into the fold is another vote of confidence.
The tight end position needs to step up as a whole in Green Bay, as even before his injury, Andrew Quarless was a ghost. He is scheduled to become a free agent following this season, and while tight end is likely to be addressed by the Packers again entering 2016, Henry now enters at an opportune time with a chance to steal a job.
Next: Packers offense can strike a balance with Adams' return
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