Welcome Back Spencer Havner…

That’s what I might eventually say if I were Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson.

Tight end/linebacker Spencer Havner was placed on the waived/injured list today by the Detroit Lions. Havner was released by the Packers during their final preseason roster cuts.

Havner could provide valuable depth for the Packers, who are battling injuries at tight end, where Jermichael Finley is out for an extended period with a torn meniscus and Donald Lee is battling a chest injury. He could also provide depth at inside linebacker, where Nick Barnett is out an extended period with a wrist injury and Brandon Chillar will likely miss his third consecutive game with a shoulder injury.

Havner had nine tackles for the Lions, this season. He had six in the Lions’ win over St. Louis last Sunday, when he was pressed into service at middle linebacker, where DeAndre Levy and Landon Johnson were both injured.

In 2009, Havner became a real, live receiving threat for the Packers, catching seven balls for 112 yard, including four touchdowns. He was also a valuable special teams contributor, which, with all their injuries, the Packers could really use.

The only problem here is Havner has a hamstring injury and probably won’t be able to contribute immediately. The severity of the injury is unclear.

The Packers could claim Havner, but would have to wait for his injury to heal for him to be of any use. If no one claims Havner, the Lions have the option of pulling him back and stashing him on injured reserve or giving him an injury settlement and releasing him outright.

If he’s released outright, the Packers could wait until he’s healed to bring him back, which seems to be the most likely scenario.

[ad#totalpackers468x60]