A Packers fifth-round draft pick last year, Cole Madison did not play during the 2018 season. The guard prospect wound up on the reserve/did-not-report list.
As the Packers begin their offseason program, they reinstated Madison to their active roster, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. He has not been with the team since its 2018 minicamp. Madison was at Lambeau Field on Monday for the start of the Packers’ workouts, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets.
Brian Gutekunst said last year a personal issue kept Madison away from the team. It was later revealed that issue may well have been the death of former college teammate Tyler Hilinski. The former Washington State quarterback’s suicide affected Madison, who was a close friend of his, according to Michael Cohen of The Athletic.
Green Bay stuck with the embattled lineman, who is in line to participate in the team’s offseason program. Before this issue intervened, Madison was expected to compete for a starting job. But not reporting to training camp altered those plans, though the Packers kept in touch with their recent draft choice, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (on Twitter). Madison may now have a tougher road to that role, but it is certainly good news he is back with the team.
Not a Packers fan personally, but this sure feels like a classy move by their organization.
Good stuff. In a league that tends to toss players over the side without a second thought it’s good to see this
Glad to see him back and am glad that the Packers exhibited some patience / understood that life takes precedence.
Good to see him back, honestly didn’t think there was any chance at all. Good luck, the Packers could use you.