GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers will be without tight end Andrew Quarless for two months after they placed him on the injured reserve/designated to return list on Wednesday.
Teams can use the designated to return tag on one player per season. By rule, it means Quarless will have to miss eight weeks. He can return to practice after six weeks.
Quarless injured his left knee in Monday night’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Tests showed a sprained MCL that was expected to keep him out 4-6 weeks. A source said Wednesday that Quarless will need the full six weeks to recover even though no surgery was required. This gives him two weeks to get conditioned.
Quarless, who had only two catches for 14 yards in three games this season, will be eligible to return for the Nov. 26 game against the Chicago Bears.
The Packers did not immediately replace Quarless on the roster, leaving them with only starter Richard Rodgers and rookie Kennard Backman at tight end. They have two tight ends on the practice squad -- Justin Perillo, who spent the final nine weeks of last season on the active roster; and Blake Annen, who was signed on Wednesday. Annen played in five games for the Bears last season.
The Packers could promote either Perillo or Annen before Sunday's game at San Francisco, but they also need a roster spot for defensive tackle Letroy Guion, whose three-game suspension is up. They have until the end of the week to put Guion on the 53-man roster.
