Jared Abbrederis Has Breakout Game For Green Bay Packers
By Jim Oxley
Former Wisconsin Badgers standout wide receiver Jared Abbrederis saw his first major action and impressed in the Green Bay Packers loss to the Detroit Lions Sunday.
READ ALSO: Abbrederis Will Have Opportunities in Green Bay
Abbrederis, a fifth round pick (176 overall) for the Packers in the 2014 NFL Draft, missed all of last season and most of the preseason this year dealing with injuries, a torn ACL last year and concussion issues this year.
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He was cut by Green Bay during the final round of preseason cuts, but returned as a member of the practice squad. He was signed to the Packers active roster about six weeks ago as Green Bay continued to deal with injuries at the wide receiver position.
With Jordy Nelson out for the season and both Ty Montgomery and Davante Adams dealing with injuries throughout the year as well, Abbrederis has slowly been working his way into the lineup. He played a few offensive snaps and returned some punts and kicks, but didn’t have much of an impact before Sunday’s game against the Lions.
First, Abbrederis caught his first NFL pass from Aaron Rodgers, and then the second-year player and went on to have four catches for 57 yards, finishing the game with the third-most yards of any Packers player.
Ex #Badgers, current #Packers WR Jared Abbrederis with first NFL catch. Couldn't be happier for @abbrecadabra. Been a long road for him.
— Tom Oates (@TomOatesWSJ) November 15, 2015
Atta boy, @abbrecadabra! Perseverance personified. https://t.co/lWAgRm7uCZ
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 15, 2015
Rodgers looked Abbrederis’ way seven times on the afternoon, seeking him out more than anyone not named Davante Adams or Randall Cobb. Rodgers found Abbrederis three times on a touchdown drive late in the game to keep the Packers close to the Lions.
Rodgers hooked up with Abbrederis for a 32-yard catch along the sidelines to the Detroit 4-yard line, setting up an eventual touchdown. Abbrederis took a big hit on the play, and didn’t return with a rib injury.
While the Packers lost and Abbrederis left the game with an injury, Badgers fans everywhere finally got to see the Abbrederis we knew and loved in college perform well at the NFL level.
Next: Other Former Badgers Off To Slow Starts In Pros
We’ll keep tabs on the injury, but it looks like Abbrederis has earned himself a bit more playing time.