Jerel Worthy watches practice on Tuesday, then gets dealt to New England.
The Green Bay Packers have traded third-year defensive end Jerel Worthy to the New England Patriots. The deal is pending a physical. The Packers are set to receive a conditional future draft pick, reported to be a 7th round selection.
The Packers gave up a 4th round draft pick in 2012 to move up from 59 to 51 and select Worthy in the second round out of Michigan State. But Worthy never developed into the player the packers had hoped he’d be. Injuries had something to do with it.
Worth recorded just 14 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in his rookie season, before tearing his ACL in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings. That injury kept Worthy from being productive in his second season.
Then during this off-season, Worthy suffered a lower-back injury while weightlifting. He’s been on the non-football injury list throughout training camp.
Hours before the trade on Tuesday, Worthy said he was good to go and waiting for the green light from the Packers to let him practice for the first time.
AUDIO: Jerel Worthy said he’s ready to return :08
The Packers selected six straight defensive players in that 2012 draft, including Worthy in the second round. Worthy, Jerron McMillian (4th round) and linebacker Terrell Manning (5th round) are all gone. Mike Daniels, Casey Hayward and Nick Perry still remain, although the jury is still out on Perry.
Worthy on Tuesday was optimistic about what 2014 will bring for him. Now that optimism will have to carry over to New England, where he is expected to soon become a Patriot.