Colt

Lyerla

Supremely gifted, Lyerla’s career has been derailed by drug issues. Waived by the Packers in 2014 after suffering a knee injury, Lyerla was popped for driving under the influence of intoxicants just weeks later. He was also cited for cocaine possession in college. Lyerla had been playing in the Arena League.

Lyerla (6-foot-3 3/8, 242) was a five-star recruit who never panned out at Oregon due to off-field issues, most of which can be read via a quick Google search. His most recent arrest occurred last October for cocaine possession, to which he pled guilty. Lyerla finished his college career with 34 catches for 565 yards (16.6 YPR) and 11 touchdowns, quitting the team after four games last fall. He ran 4.61 at the Combine with a 39-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad jump. Lyerla theoretically offers Aaron Hernandezian “move” tight end tools, but could just as easily be out of the NFL in a few years. He’s a classic boom-or-bust prospect.

Lyerla is at the bottom of the depth chart in a group that includes seven tight ends. The good news for Lyerla is that the tight end spot in Green Bay is the most wide-open position on the team. Lyerla has all the measurables and talent to make a quick climb once the pads come on and preseason games get under way. It’s a reminder that Lyerla is a classic boom-or-bust prospect.

Beat reporter Rob Demovsky calls Lyerla’s injury “potentially serious.” Lyerla was spotted on crutches following Packers Family Night, walking “slowly and with a limp” when he wasn’t donning them. If Lyerla has a multi-week injury, the Packers could consider waiving him injured to stash him on I.R.

The Packers are still awaiting MRI results to confirm their thinking, however. Lyerla is a superb athlete out of Oregon, albeit with a troubling off-field history. Camp reports suggest Lyerla wasn’t standing out before his injury.

Lyerla was carted off and spotted on crutches after practice. This has potential to be a serious injury. More will be known when the Packers update his status.

The praise doesn’t stop with Huff. “Just a monster,” Oregon CB Terrance Mitchell said of Lyerla. “Colt is a beast. I don’t know how to explain it. A monster, a beast....He could be anything he wants to be.” Lyerla went undrafted after a tumultuous college career that saw him quit the team four games into last season. He then got into drugs and was arrested for cocaine possession. The Packers took a chance on the ultra-talented Lyerla. At 6'3/242, he runs a 4.61 forty and posted a 39-inch vertical. Lyerla could make a year-one impact at an unsettled position in Green Bay. He needs to be owned in all Dynasty formats.

Lyerla was injured over the weekend. It was initially described as a “sprain.” Teams don’t have to go into specifics with injuries during camp, so it’s all we have to go off. Lyerla was already bringing up the bottom of the depth chart before going down, so the missed time is going to put him even further behind the eight ball. Lyerla can’t afford to miss the remainder of camp and preseason.

Lyerla went undrafted last weekend. The 6-foot-4, 242-pound tight end was viewed as a potential first-round pick not too long ago, but the last time he played in a game was September 2013. Lyerla was suspended by Oregon for missing multiple practices. He then quit the squad, started using drugs, and got arrested for possession of cocaine. At the Combine, Lyerla blazed a 4.61 forty with a 39-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad jump. He has natural hands and a large catch radius (32 3/4-inch arms). If Lyerla can get his head on straight, catching passes from Aaron Rodgers wouldn’t be a bad gig. The tight end depth chart in Green Bay is wide open.

Lyerla injured multiple knee ligaments in training camp with the Packers last year. He recently posted a video that shows him running routes and catching passes in an attempt to get back in the NFL. Lyerla’s September arrest for DUI has also been dismissed. Despite elite physical tools, Lyerla’s character concerns remain a major obstacle in his quest to sign a big-league contract.