What to Know: Packers sign TE Shaun Beyer to practice squad
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers have signed tight end Shaun Beyer to the practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson.
What to know about the Green Bay Packers’ newest tight end, Shaun Beyer
Beyer went undrafted in 2021 out of Iowa and spent the following NFL season with Denver on their practice squad. He has no regular-season NFL snaps and also spent a little time in Minnesota.
Beyer wasn’t targeted heavily in the Iowa offense, with only 40 career pass thrown his way. He would catch 18 of them at 15.3 yards per catch with a touchdown.
Where he did have a lot of experience was as a run-blocker, with 442 career snaps in that role, according to PFF ($$). During his final 2020 season, Beyer ranked eighth among all tight ends in college football in PFF’s run blocking grade.
He was also on the field for 225 total special teams snaps.
The Packers have four tight ends on the 53-man roster but none of the practice squad prior to the addition of Beyer, which from a numbers standpoint, had left them a bit thin at the position.
Where the Packers practice squad stands at the moment is a bit of an unknown at this time.
The team reported 12 signings on Wednesday. However, there were unconfirmed reports that Juwann Winfree, Ramiz Ahmed, and Benjie Franklin had all be signed as well. GM Brian Gutekunst would also tell reporters that the Packers wanted to bring back Micah Abernathy once he cleared waivers.
With Beyer in the mix, that’s five players for only four spots. Either one of the aforementioned players isn’t returning — perhaps Abernathy was claimed off waivers, for example — or someone already on the practice squad is going to be cut to make room for Beyer.
The Packers now have five tight ends on the team between the 53-man roster and the practice squad. Beyer joins a tight end room made up of Robert Tonyan, Josiah Deguara, Marcedes Lewis, and Tyler Davis.
UPDATE: the Packers announced that they officially signed Winfree, Franklin, and Beyer to the practice squad. One spot remains open.