Green Bay Packers reportedly keep T Bryan Bulaga; Day 1 wrap-up
By Phil Watson
Nov 9, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back DuJuan Harris (26) during warmups prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 55-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Barclay, Richardson retained; Harris, Boykin non-tendered
Two players who were at one time penciled in as starters for the Green Bay Packers were non-tendered and are now unrestricted free agents.
Running back DuJuan Harris was an exclusive-rights free agent. He went into the 2013 season as the presumptive starter at running back before injuring his patellar tendon and missing the entire season.
The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that he was not tendered.
He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011 as an undrafted free agent out of Troy and came to the Packers on Oct. 24, 2012, signing with the practice squad.
He joined the active roster in December and rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries in four games and had 100 yards and two scores on 28 attempts in two playoff starts.
But last season, behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks, Harris had just 64 yards on 15 carries and returned 22 kickoffs for a less-than-sterling 20.7 yards per return.
Nov 9, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jarrett Boykin (11) blocks a punt by Chicago Bears punter Pat O’Donnell (16) in the third quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Also non-tendered was restricted free-agent Jarrett Boykin, according to the Press-Gazette.
Boykin got lost in the shuffle at wide receiver behind starters Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb and rookie Davante Adams in 2014 and had only three receptions for 23 yards last season.
In 2013, starting eight games while filling in for an injured Cobb, Boykin had 49 grabs for 681 yards and three touchdowns.
Boykin was signed by the Pack as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech in 2012.
Boykin is getting some interest from the Carolina Panthers, according to reports.
#Packers WR Jarrett Boykin visiting the #Panthers
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2015
Former #Packers receiver Jarrett Boykin is visiting the Panthers tomorrow, per a league source.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 11, 2015
The Packers did extend right-of-first-refusal tenders, which will pay $1.542 million in 2015 if the players don’t receive other offers, to tackle Don Barclay and safety Sean Richardson and extended an exclusive-rights tender to safety Chris Banjo.
Barclay, a valuable reserve on the offensive line who can play either tackle or guard, missed the 2014 season with a torn ACL. Barclay came to Green Bay as an undrafted free agent from West Virginia in 2012.
Richardson is the primary backup at both safety spots and led the team with 17 special-teams tackles in 2014. An undrafted free agent from Vanderbilt in 2012, Richardson missed a year after having two vertabrae in his neck fused following the 2012 season.