Marc

Tyler

Tyler has resumed practicing fully and will play in Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Chargers, but this is an injury that dates back to college. The Packers will have to take it into consideration ahead of final cuts. A sluggish runner who can pass protect and play special teams, Tyler is on the bubble.

An undrafted free agent out of USC, Tyler received a heavy preseason workload, but mostly plodded, taking the ball just 105 yards on 45 carries. He also lost a fumble. He did add five catches for 24 yards, however, and was reportedly impressive in OTAs. He’s a practice squad candidate.

Tyler seems like a bit of an odd pick for a practice squad spot because he’s a plodder and that won’t change, but he knows the offense and can pick up the blitz, and the Packers want to keep Tyler around the team in case of running emergency. Green Bay wound up keeping four tailbacks on the final 53: Cedric Benson, Alex Green, Brandon Saine, and injured James Starks.

The son of former NFL All-Pro Wendell Tyler, Marc was a five-star recruit, a Gatorade Player of the Year and the No. 1-rated back in the country entering USC. Tyler rushed for 913 yards and 9 TDs in 2010 before sharing carries with Curtis McNeal as a senior. Although he’s built well at 5'11", 219, a 4.72 forty killed his draft stock. Tyler is expected to be given “every opportunity” to make the roster given the lack of depth at tailback.