Packers Likely To Lose J.C. Tretter

It appears center J.C. Tretter‘s tenure with the Packers is on the verge of ending. The free agent-to-be has drawn interest from at least seven other teams at the combine this week and figures to price himself out of Green Bay on the open market, reports Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentintel.

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J.C. Tretter (Vertical)

Prior to last season, Tretter had garnered only three starts in 24 appearances since the Packers selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. But Tretter started the Packers’ first seven games in 2016, during which he ranked as Pro Football Focus’ ninth-best center, before suffering “significant MCL damage” in his right knee and missing the rest of the season.

Fortunately for the 26-year-old Tretter, it doesn’t look as if his knee will be a problem going forward. Tretter underwent arthroscopic surgery at Dr. James Andrews’ clinic in Alabama on Jan. 17, and Andrews didn’t find any cartilage or structural damage, a source told Cohen.

With Tretter about to depart, Green Bay will turn to Corey Linsley as its starting center next season, per Cohen. Linsley has far more starting experience than Tretter, having lined up with the Packers’ No. 1 offense in all 38 of his appearances. He missed the Packers’ first nine games last year and then came back just as Tretter went down. Linsley’s presence will obviously soften the blow of Tretter’s forthcoming exit.

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