A surprise late-season addition and playoff starter for the Green Bay Packers is planning to come back and play during the 2020 season.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, offensive tackle Jared Veldheer, who played in four games for the Packers to finish the 2019 season, plans to return next season.
Veldheer, who turns 33 in June, will be an unrestricted free agent. “Multiple teams” were in contact with Veldheer’s reps at the NFL Scouting Combine, per Schefter, so it’s possible interest will be high once free agency begins.
The Packers claimed Veldheer off of waivers in late November after he returned from a brief retirement to start the 2019 season. The move turned out to be a good one for GM Brian Gutekunst.
Veldheer played 35 snaps as an injury replacement for Bryan Bulaga in Week 17 in Detroit and then started in place of Bulaga, who was sick, during the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.
“Jared stepped in and did a great job, he really did,” Rodgers said after the Packers’ win over the Seahawks. “We’re really happy to have him and he’s been really good for us.”
The Packers could look to Veldheer as a stop-gap starter if the team loses Bulaga in free agency.
Veldheer, a third-round pick in 2010, has played in 120 regular season games and five playoff games over his NFL career. He’s played left tackle, right tackle and even some guard.
