Packers Waive TE Roberts After Failed Physical

It’s the end of an era. Well, that is the Michael Roberts era in Green Bay.

The Packers claimed the 25-year-old tight end on Monday but only two days passed before he was waived because of a failed physical. Last week, the Lions tried to trade him to the Patriots but the deal was voided for the same exact reason: health. Detroit subsequently waived him shortly after.

In 2018, Roberts played in eight games for the Lions and made two starts. He recorded nine receptions with three of them resulting in touchdowns. He was placed on injured reserve at the end of the season due to a shoulder injury.

Likely the same injury preventing him from joining another team at the moment.

Roberts was a fourth-round selection during the 2017 draft but his NFL career hasn’t gone the way you would expect from a guy taken early on day three.

He is listed 6-5 265 pounds, however, he ran an uninspiring 4.8 forty-yard dash at the combine. Still, Roberts has decent hands and was expected to be a solid red-zone threat or even a formidable in-line blocker. Now, there’s no telling if he will be on a roster come the start of training camp.

Green Bay has looked to bolster their group of tight ends and Roberts generated a little excitement. The team may keep three or four tight ends this year so really anyone with the team entering training camp has a shot.

On the flip side, Robert Tonyan fans might be excited to see less competition for the UDFA who hauled in one the offense’s biggest plays in a game last season against Seattle.

With Jimmy Graham expected to start, the Packers also have Marcedes Lewis, Jace Sternberger, Tonyan, and some other camp bodies to compete for reps. Green Bay has an opening to get to 90 players on the training camp roster so it will be interesting to see who they bring in next.

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