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Richardson originally made the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt last season.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.