The Green Bay Packers officially waived third-year safety Josh Jones with a non-football illness designation on Sunday afternoon.
Jones, a second-round pick of the Packers in 2017, has missed the majority of the last two weeks, including two preseason games, with an unspecified illness.
Rob Demovsky of ESPN reports that Jones has been dealing with hyperthyrodism, a treatable condition that shouldn’t prevent him from playing football.
According to the Mayo Clinic, hyperthyroidism can “accelerate your body’s metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat,” but is generally treatable once diagnosed.
Regardless of the illness, the Packers were clearly ready to move on from a player who no longer wanted to be in Green Bay. Jones skipped voluntary OTAs and attempted to force a trade or release in June. It took two months, but Jones got his wish.
Even though he was released with a non-football illness designation, Jones will still go through waivers. If unclaimed, he will be a free agent.
