McCarthy can’t confirm team’s interest in QB
GREEN BAY - If the Green Bay Packers attempted to sign veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer, as was reported this week, coach Mike McCarthy says he wasn’t involved.
The Packers attempted to “steal” Hoyer after he was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, according to NFL Network. Hoyer ultimately signed a three-year deal with the New England Patriots to serve as Tom Brady’s backup, and McCarthy said he never was privy to conversations about bringing Hoyer to Green Bay.
“Well, I’ll just say this about veteran free agency,” McCarthy said. “First off, I can’t confirm (the report) because from the time Aaron (Rodgers) has been injured, I’ve never once been involved in a conversation about bringing in a veteran quarterback.
“So from my perspective, from the time of the Minnesota game, the Monday after the Minnesota game to here today, … I know you think I’m talking to you guys (in the media), but I’m really talking to our football team and our fans. The direction that we’re going with the quarterbacks is Brett Hundley and the guys that we have here.
“So that was really clearly the vision from the time we had to address it there in Minnesota.”
It means that from a coaching perspective the Packers always have planned to move forward with Hundley as their starter and Joe Callahan as the backup. Those are the two players tasked with bridging the gap until a potential return by Rodgers, who underwent surgery to repair his broken right collarbone and was placed on injured reserve.
Things are often different from a personnel perspective, however, and it’s likely the Packers’ front office expressed interest in Hoyer without consulting anyone on the coaching staff, as is their right. General manager Ted Thompson and his scouts communicate with agents and other league personnel on a daily basis, and it is ultimately their decision about which players they believe can or cannot help the Packers win.
Hoyer was not available when Rodgers injured his collarbone Oct. 15 vs. the Vikings and only hit the market after the 49ers acquired QB Jimmy Garoppolo in a trade with the Patriots right before this week’s deadline.
“I’m not naive to the fact that player personnel people talk around the league,” McCarthy said. “Was there a conversation on other free agents, particularly leading up to the deadline of trading? Yeah, that’s those guys doing their jobs. But as far as pursuing any player, I personally was not involved in any conversations, especially on a veteran quarterback.” Special addition: There’s a decent chance Packers rookie linebacker Vince
Biegel will come off the physically unable to perform list this week and make his NFL debut Monday.
But don’t count on his major contribution being on defense. At Wisconsin, Biegel played special teams all four years and has been working all four units with the Packers in practice.
The Packers have until the end of the business day Wednesday to activate Biegel, put him on injured reserve or cut him.
Spriggs returns: Tackle Jason Spriggs became eligible to return to practice from injured reserve Thursday and the Packers wasted no time in getting him back on the field.
By doing so, the Packers automatically triggered one of the two “designated to return” options they have for players on injured reserve. Spriggs would be eligible to play against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 19. The other “designated to return” move is being saved for Rodgers.
Injury report: Tight end Martellus Bennett missed a day of practice for the first time as a Packer because of a shoulder injury.
Bennett was one of five players who were listed as not participating in practice. The others were linebackers Ahmad Brooks (back) and Joe Thomas (ankle), defensive lineman Quinton
Dial (chest) and safety Kentrell Brice (ankle).
Guard Lane Taylor (ankle), safety Morgan Burnett (hamstring) and long snapper Taybor Pepper (foot) were limited participants.