Packers 2017 Recap: T Ulrick John
Ulrick John joined the Packers in September 2017 in the midst of the worst part of the team’s slow-rolling offensive line crisis. With seemingly every available lineman in a Packers uniform hurt, John joined the Packers from the Cardinals’ practice squad and provided depth for the remainder of the season.
2017 Stats
- Appeared in five games with zero starts
- 40 snaps on offense, 16 on special teams
Expectations going into the season: Low
Expectations were: Met
Analysis: John did what the Packers needed him to do (and nothing more)
Even though every team in the NFL is reportedly made up entirely of professional athletes, I don’t have any doubt that every team has a guy whose mere presence in a game indicates “yeah, things are bad.”
Ulrick John may have been that player for the Packers in 2017. It’s not his fault and not an indictment of his skills or talents, merely a reality.
The Packers were truly in dire straits on the offensive line early on. David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga were both banged up early. Don Barclay was on injured reserve before the season even started, and Jason Spriggs quickly joined him. John was a stopgap until those players healed enough to join the roster in a meaningful way again, and with his size and relative athleticism, he may have been a competent enough replacement.
Let’s just be thankful it didn’t come to that.
