Martellus Bennett Has Torn Rotator Cuff
The Packers waived tight end Martellus Bennett because he had a torn rotator cuff, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). He may or may not try to play through the injury. If he can’t, the Patriots could simply place him on injured reserve. 
[RELATED: Patriots Claim TE Martellus Bennett]
There are varying degrees to rotator cuff tears and, presumably, Bennett is not dealing with a complete tear. A partial tear could help to explain his mediocre production in 2017. In seven games for the Packers, Bennett had just 24 grabs for 233 yards and zero touchdowns.
Bennett has indicated that he will retire after the 2017 season, so he might be willing to play through the pain without fear of the additional damage he might do to his shoulder. If he can gut it out, he might just have a chance at winning a second consecutive Super Bowl ring with the Patriots. This time around, he won’t have to be on the field as much thanks to Rob Gronkowski being healthy and the presence of Dwayne Allen.
Patriots Claim TE Martellus Bennett
The Patriots have claimed former Packers tight end Martellus Bennett, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The deal brings Bennett back to the team where he thrived in 2016 and won a Super Bowl ring. To make room, defensive end Geneo Grissom has been cut.
Bennett was stellar with the Patriots in 2016, hauling in 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he was a total dud after signing a lucrative free agent deal with the Packers. In seven games, he had just 24 receptions, 233 yards, and zero touchdowns in seven games. Some in Green Bay believe that Bennett starting phoning it in after Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone.
By claiming Bennett, the Patriots assume the remainder of the veteran’s three-year, $21MM deal. However, much of his Year 1 salary was already paid out to him via signing bonus. Bennett is due just $423K for the rest of the season.
Initially, it was believed that Bennett would likely pass through waivers unclaimed. While he may have been checked out with the Packers, the Patriots are apparently confident that he will pick up right where he left off.
Last month, Bennett announced that he is considering retirement after the 2017 season. It remains to be seen whether his relocation to New England will change his mind about hanging up the cleats. If he can be productive once again, this could prove to be one of the greatest “rentals” in league history.
Bennett will now join a TE group headlined by Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen. After Grissom was cut, it appears that Jacob Hollister will remain on the 53-man roster for now as the fourth TE.
Martellus Bennett Quit On Packers?
Did Martellus Bennett quit on the Packers after Aaron Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone? That was the feeling in Green Bay, according to one source who spoke with Ryan Wood of USA Today. Wood also indicates that the Packers took Bennett’s decision to retire after the season as a sign that he was already checked out and that may have led the team to release him here in November.
Packers Cut TE Martellus Bennett
The Packers have cut tight end Martellus Bennett, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move comes days after Bennett announced that he is considering retirement after the 2017 season. According to the NFL’s transactions wire, the Packers dropped the tight end with a “Failure to Disclose Physical Condition designation.”
Bennett, 30, joined the Packers on a three-year, $21MM deal in the spring. The Packers may look to recoup some of that money. To date, the Packers have paid out about $8MM to the tight end.
He was great with the Patriots in 2016, but he was unable to replicate that production in Green Bay. His Packers tenure ends after he hauled in just 24 receptions, 233 yards, and zero touchdowns in seven games.
It’s not immediately clear whether Bennett will look to continue his career or if he’ll get a head start on retirement.
“After conversations with my family I’m pretty sure these next 8 games will be the conclusion of my NFL career,” Bennett wrote on social media in late October. “To everyone who has poured themselves and time into my life and career. These next games are for you. Thank you.”
If Bennett does seek employment, he’ll become the hottest property on the midseason free agent market. Despite his struggles in 2017, he’s just one year removed from hauling in 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns for the Patriots.
Packers T Bryan Bulaga Done For Year
Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga tore his ACL, a source tells NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). Bulaga will be placed on injured reserve with no hope of returning this year. 
Bulaga, 28, has been dealing with injuries throughout the season that have hampered his performance. Bulaga currently rates as just the 39th best tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. That’s a major step down from his top 7 placement in 2016 and 2014.
Already, the Packers’ offense is reeling from the absence of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now, fill-in Brett Hundley will have to do his best behind a thinned out offensive line.
For now, reserve Justin McCray is expected to start in Bulaga’s place. Second-round pick Jason Spriggs is coming off of IR and could also help fill the void.
The banged-up Packers are 4-4 after losing to the Lions on Sunday and their playoff hopes are in serious jeopardy.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/5/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Green Bay Packers
- LS’s Nolan Frese, Colin Holba, Zach Triner; CB Raysean Pringle (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com) (Twitter link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- P Brock Miller (Twitter link)
San Francisco 49ers
- T’s Will Beatty, Cameron Jefferson, Andrew Lauderdale, Max Rich; Ss K.J. Dillon, Deron Washington (Twitter links)
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/5/17
Today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted to active roster: CB Donatello Brown
- Placed on injured reserve: S Kentrell Brice
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted to active roster: S Isaiah Johnson
Oakland Raiders
- Activated from injured reserve: S Obi Melifonwu
- Waived/injured: CB Demetrius McCray
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/5/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Dan Skipper
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Emanuel Byrd
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Jason Vander Laan
Latest on Aaron Rodgers’ Potential Return
Last month the entire football world was flipped on its head when Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone versus the Vikings and was presumably out for a long period of time if not the entire season. There’s been rumors about the 33 year-old’s potential return since he was placed on the disabled list just about two weeks ago. Now the quarterback is addressing his potential return for the first time in a session with the media earlier today.
Rodgers spoke to a group of reporters after the team’s Friday practice, including Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, who outlined Rodgers’ mindset for the rest of the season. Demovsky passed along that the former MVP is first and foremost focused on getting right physically.
“First of all, I want to be healthy,” Rodgers said. “That’s the most important thing. But if we’re healthy in eight weeks and it would make sense to come back, then I’m going to come back.”
Based on the quote, it would seem that the Rodgers isn’t putting it out of the question that he could return right before the start of the playoffs. According to league rules, the earliest Rodgers can return would be in Week 15 against Carolina. While the being on injured reserve is certainly not what one of the league’s best signal callers wanted, he looks to be thinking about the Packers decision to place him on the IR as a positive.
“I think the best thing that happened probably in this is just to put me on IR, because now you know it’s going to be at least eight weeks,” Rodgers said. “Where the last time, the holdup was the bone wasn’t healed. That was the main holdup. You could see me throwing at practice, you could see me [feeling] positive about it and feeling good, but then you’d go to the scan and it’s not healed yet. So it did take the duration.”
While Rodgers is focusing on moving forward he also pointed out that he didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes all too high regarding his recovery, given the severity of the injury.
“I would just temper expectations because, as much as I would love to get back out there this year, if it’s not healed, then there’s no conversation,” Rodgers said. “If it is healed, then there’s a conversation and we’ll go from there.”
Of course, Rodgers’ return would be a moot point if current starter Brett Hundley can’t keep the team above water until Rodgers is healed and ready to return to the field. As it stands, Green Bay is 4-3 and 1.5 games behind the NFC North division leading Vikings.
Packers’ Taybor Pepper Done For Season
Packers long snapper Taybor Pepper broke his foot in practice on Thursday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). He’s done for the season and will be placed on injured reserve. 
The Packers moved quickly to work out long snappers on Friday. After the auditions, they settled on Derek Hart, according to Rapoport (Twitter link). In related news, the Packers are bringing fourth-round rookie linebacker Vince Biegel off of the PUP list. Both players will have an opportunity to make their Packer debuts against the Lions on Monday night.
Pepper, 23, was a long way from football in September when he was working the cash register at his parents’ consignment store. Suddenly, an opportunity opened up with the Packers when long snapper Brett Goode went down with a hamstring injury.
“My agent called me and was kind of like, ‘There might be a situation. There might not be. Be ready,’” Pepper said (via the team’s website). “After the game, [Packers director of football operations] Eliot Wolf called me and said, ‘We need you here.’”