Seattle Seahawks sign former Packers third-round pick
Former Green Bay Packers tight end Jace Sternberger was released by the team and landed quickly in his new home with the Seattle Seahawks. After completing a two-game suspension to start the season, the Packers released their former third-round draft pick, only to see him be signed to the Seahawks practice squad.
Jace Sternberger to the Seahawks
Sternbergers’ change of scenery was announced by his agent on social media.
“Excited for [Sternberger] agreeing to sign with [the] Seahawks [practice squad].”
The Packers decision to move on from Sternberger came after a tumultuous start to his NFL career. His suspension came from violating the league’s substance abuse policy in February 2020. In Sternberger’s own admission, he combined sleeping pills and alcohol before driving and falling asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle.
Between the suspension, two concussions, an ankle injury and a stint on the reserve/COVID list, Sternberger’s career with the Packers ended with 12 receptions for 114 yards. The news of his signing with Seattle gives hope that he will recover from the slow start to his career.
Sternberger was a third-round pick for the Packers in the 2019 NFL Draft. In his two years with the Packers, he has only appeared in 18 games. Green Bay has four other tight-ends, making the decision easier for them.
Practice squad signing
The decision to join Seattle comes as bad news to some people in Green Bay who still wanted Sternberger to remain with the team on their own practice squad.
“Packers are going to make a big push to get tight end Jace Sternberger back on the practice squad if he clears waivers, but chances are he’ll wind up somewhere where he has the best chance to make a 53-man roster. Packers have four TEs they like a lot,” reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel following Sternberger’s release.
Sure enough, Sternberger cleared waivers and joined a team he felt had more promise to his career.
The Seahawks are currently 1-1 on the season and last in their division as the only team with a loss so far.