Tackle to play for two teams in same playoffs
Offensive tackle Jared Veldheer is back with the Green Bay Packers, giving him an opportunity to compete in playoff games for different teams on back-to-back weekends.
Veldheer was with the Packers for Tuesday’s practice. The Packers (13-3) host the Los Angeles Rams (11-6) in an NFC divisional playoff game Saturday.
The 33-year-old Veldheer was the Indianapolis Colts’ starting left tackle for their final two games, including a 27-24 AFC first-round playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills last weekend.
Because the Colts merely elevated him from the practice squad for game day and didn’t officially sign him to their 53man roster, the Packers were able to sign him this week. The Packers announced the signing Tuesday and made room for him by placing guard Simon Stepaniak on injured reserve.
Veldheer joined the Packers late last season and was their starting right tackle for a divisional playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks when an illness left Bryan Bulaga unable to play in that game.
“I think we’ve got to kind of just wait and see, how much recall he has last year,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday. “What’s interesting is that he just played in a game this weekend with a totally different offense. We’ll try to get him acclimated and welcome him back as quickly as possible.”
The addition of Veldheer gives the Packers more options as they try to replace All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, who is out for the season after injuring his knee in a Dec. 31 practice.
Seahawks fire OC Schottenheimer
The Seattle Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer following a season in which the team set several offensive records but coach Pete Carroll had issues with how the offense operated.
Seattle cited “philosophical differences” for the move.
Schottenheimer, 47, completed his third season with the Seahawks after previously serving as the offensive coordinator of the Jets and Rams.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks have agreed to a contract extension with general manager John Schneider that will keep him tied to the franchise through the 2027 draft. Schneider has been the team’s GM since 2010.
Raiders put Bradley in charge of defense
The Las Vegas Raiders hired Gus Bradley as their new defensive coordinator with the task of turning around one of the league’s worst units.
Coach Jon Gruden decided to bring on the experienced Bradley to fill the role Paul Guenther had for the first two-plus seasons on his staff before being fired in December.
Bradley got his start in the NFL on Gruden’s staff in Tampa Bay from 2006-08 before heading to Seattle, where he served as defensive coordinator for four seasons. He helped build a dominant defense and that led to a head coaching job in Jacksonville. Bradley went 14-48 before getting fired. He has been defensive coordinator the past four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Browns lose subs for ailing starters
As the Cleveland Browns anxiously wait for Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio and top cornerback Denzel Ward to return from COVID-19 and join their playoff run, the team lost their replacements to injuries.
Cleveland placed guard Michael Dunn (calf ) and cornerback Robert Jackson (hamstring) on injured reserve, losing two players who started Sunday’s playoff win at Pittsburgh while Bitonio and Ward remain sidelined with the virus. It’s not yet known whether Bitonio or Ward will be able to return this week at Kansas City.
Odds and ends
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy will return in 2021, a source told the Chicago Tribune. One change to Nagy’s staff will be the hiring of a new defensive coordinator as Chuck Pagano has decided to retire. …
Anthony Castonzo, the Indianapolis Colts’ longtime offensive line anchor, announced his retirement, less than two weeks after undergoing season-ending surgery on his right ankle. Castonzo, 32, won the starting job at left tackle as a rookie in 2011 and played in 152 games.