Green Bay’s revolving door at punter takes another spin. Just seconds after we at APC published an article discussing the Green Bay Packers ’ signing of rookie fourth-round draft pick Jamaal Williams, the Packers made that signing official.
But that’s not remotely the biggest news to come out of this press release.
Instead, the big news is that the Packers have parted ways with the player who spent all of last season as the team’s punter and holder, Jacob Schum. Schum was signed during the preseason in 2016 to replace Tim Masthay , who was released at that time. He averaged 43.2 yards per punt last year while placing 19 of his 65 punts inside the 20-yard line. He also kicked four punts into the end zone for touchbacks and had a net average of 39.1 yards.
This move leaves undrafted rookie Justin Vogel as the lone punter on the Packers’ roster. Vogel, a product of the University of Miami, essentially matched Schum’s gross average last season, with a 43.8 yards-per-kick average on 64 punts. However, Vogel placed 25 of his kicks inside the 20 in 2016.
Just a month ago, Vogel mentioned in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that a shot at the Packers’ active roster was the main reason he signed in Green Bay after going undrafted: “I know the guy they have now has only been there a year, and he doesn’t have a super long-term deal,” he said. The Packers could certainly bring in competition for Vogel this spring or in training camp, but apparently the team feels good enough with him moving forward to give Schum the boot.
In one final roster move, the Packers signed rookie wide receiver Colby Pearson to take Schum’s spot on the roster. Pearson played at BYU with fellow Packers rookies Williams and quarterback Taysom Hill, where he caught 38 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns as a senior in 2016. According to NFL Draft Scout , he recorded a 4.50-second 40-yard dash at BYU’s Pro Day.
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