Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley is doing the Super Bowl thing this week and today he told PFT he’ll be cleared for contact in three to four weeks.
That’s pretty surprising for a guy who suffered a serious neck injury during the 2013 season that ultimately required spinal fusion surgery.
Finley has already been cleared to run routes and catch passes and says his doctor is 99.9 percent confident that he will be able to successfully resume his career.
Whether the Green Bay Packers allow Finley to resume his career is another question. Finley would have to be cleared by the team’s doctor and that’s a crapshoot.
There have been two instances where Packers have suffered similar injuries. Safety Nick Collins wasn’t cleared to return and safety Sean Richardson was.
There’s also the question of whether the Packers will pay Finley even if he is cleared. He’s about to become a free agent and if he is indeed healthy, will probably be seeking top-tier tight end money.
The Packers are going to have trouble affording that type of contract, but they don’t have much worth talking about at the tight even position after Finley.