Martellus Bennett was already ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears because of a shoulder injury, but now he’s off the team altogether.
Seriously:
The Packers cut Bennett with the failure to disclose a medical condition designation. We'll see what's next for the veteran TE.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 8, 2017
ESPN’s Field Yates reports the Green Bay Packers cut their starting tight end, citing Bennett’s failure to disclose a medical issue. Bennett did not play in the team’s loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football and wasn’t expected to play against the Bears on Sunday.
So much for Bennett’s return to Soldier Field being a revenge game.
Bennett hasn’t provided the impact Green Bay expected when the team signed him to a deal in free agency. The former Bears tight end caught just 24 passes and gained 233 yards in seven games with the Packers. That’s quite the drop off in production from a player who caught 75 percent of the passes thrown his way while playing with the New England Patriots in 2016. Frankly, it’s a disappointing showing from Bennett, who went to the Pro Bowl in 2014 when he was catching passes from Jay Cutler. With hindsight, Cutler was one of Bennett’s favorite quarterbacks to play with, ranking him higher than Eli Manning and Tony Romo.
And just to throw salt in the wound, Jared Cook – who the Packers let walk away and sign a deal with the Oakland Raiders – has posted 100-yard receiving games in two of his last three weeks and is Pro Football Focus’ eighth-highest-graded tight end.
Even though the Bears have a need at the position after Zach Miller’s injury, I wouldn’t expect the Bears to burn up Bennett’s phone lines when he arrives to free agency after clearing waivers. Bennett, who hinted he would retire at season’s end, played one year under John Fox before the Bears dealt him to New England for a draft selection.