There was some question as to whether Green Bay Packers safety Sean Richardson would ever play football again. He’s been out with a neck injury since November — the same neck injury that ended Nick Collins’ career.
According to Tom Silverstein, Richardson will indeed play again, once he gets clearance from the Packers. He’s already been cleared by doctors and remains on the physically unable to perform list, at the moment.
#Packers S Sean Richardson (neck) said team doctor has cleared him to resume his career. Said 5 out of 5 doctors agreed it's safe to return.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) October 23, 2013
Richardson is not practicing yet and remains on PUP, but said he is more than ready to return and is just waiting for the go-ahead.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) October 23, 2013
Richardson originally made the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt last season. The question now becomes what the Packers do at safety.
Once he returns to practice, the Packers will have three weeks to decide whether to activate Richardson, put him on injured reserve or release him. He’ll join the group of Morgan Burnett, M.D. Jennings, Jerron McMillian and Chris Banjo, an undrafted guy who made the team this year.
Burnett obviously isn’t going anywhere and McMillian has played the worst of the group, thus far. Of course, he was a fourth-round draft pick just last season.
It seems like the Packers would have to give up on McMillian or weaken one of their other positions by adding Richardson to the roster. Personally, we’ve seen enough of McMillian this year, but it will be an interesting decision nonetheless.
I see no reason to expect a guy who didn’t play a whole heck of a lot last year before the injury to come in and be a savior to our problems at safety (other than Burnett).
Personally, I’d rather see Micah Hyde there. That guy needs more reps and if this is a way to get them, so be it.
I 2nd Micah Hyde @ safety. Micah to safety, Heyward back to his position, and unload McMillian.
Abe & Chungo,
I agree with your sentiments — not sure what Richardson can provide, unless he’s made that year1-to-year2 jump (but how’d he do that?).
Safety/Cornerback ? what’s in a name? you cover guys, break up passes, and tackle runners.
It’s kinda weird that everyone is up in arms about ditching McMillian. He was drafted 133rd overall. This is his second year and it’s almost like he’s regressing. Don’t see the sweat with releasing him.
Richardson’s an exceptional special teamer, pretty much the entire reason he made the team. He also played some D last year and was solid, certainly better than McMillain. He has quite a bit of potential (for starters he was a college teammate and pal of Hayward-and he seems to have turned out decently eh-and as such they communicate and execute well together, so there’s also that), If he hadn’t been injured he may have become this years starter (though probably more towards the end of the season).
I dunno what sites you’ve visited in which fans are ardent about McMillain staying (Viking/Bear/Lion sites perhaps? Doin’ a little recon behind enemy lines?). I almost unfailingly give young players at least 3 years to display some modicum of skill before I want them sent packing, but when you perform as McMillain has you receive special consideration. I’m with ya on this one.
I can spend (waste?) enough of my day on Packer sites; not doing any guerrilla work on divisional rivals. All for giving a player a chance, but I’m just having tough time seeing anything. After two camps and one season — where there were extra snaps for him due to injury — I’m thinking we’d see a flash of something once or twice per game by now.
I can’t remember the opponent in pre-season, but Richardson zoomed out of nowhere to lay a hit on a runner. That was pretty exciting.
I wonder if he has the muscle memory to know where to be in passing, zone formations, etc. without having practiced. I guess if he’s been in the playbook that will help.
I think he’s around 215lb — nice to have that hitting on some runners.
Richardson plays ST so I say cut Bush if they’re not ready (although the should be) to dump off mcmillan yet.