Green Bay Packers rookie outside linebacker Greg Roberts, who has been on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list all season, finally returned to practice on Thursday.
By practicing, Roberts – an undrafted rookie from Baylor – opened up a 21-day window for the Packers to activate him to the 53-man roster, waive him or keep him on the PUP list for the rest of the season.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Roberts was on the PUP list while recovering from offseason core surgery. His rookie contract includes $72,000 in guarantees, meaning the Packers saw him as a high-level undrafted free agent when they signed him in May.
Roberts (6-5, 258) played in 42 games at Baylor, tallying 15.5 tackles for losses, three sacks, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two field goal blocks. He was an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick as a senior when he produced eight tackles for losses and two sacks (both of Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray).
The Packers don’t necessarily have a need at edge rusher, especially with Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith locked in as starters and both Rashan Gary and Kyler Fackrell holding down the key backup roles. But if GM Brian Gutekunst likes Roberts as much as the money suggests, he’ll probably want to find a spot on the roster for him within the three-week window.
