Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla came into the Green Bay Packers' rookie tryout camp in the spring with more fanfare than any other undrafted free agent in recent memory. The athletic tight end earned a rookie contract out of the tryout, and spent the offseason and the early part of training camp with the team, but failed to make any huge impressions.

Then, during the team's Family Night practice on August 2nd, Lyerla suffered an injury that would sideline him for the entire preseason. After attempting to hurdle a defender, Lyerla ended up tearing his MCL and PCL in his knee.

Unfortunately for the tight end, the Packers have decided to waive him and try to place him on Injured Reserve:

According a source, the #Packers have waived Colt Lyerla injured. Likely means an injury settlement and then a possible return later. — Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 19, 2014

Colt Lyerla said he was just told by #Packers that he's being placed on injured reserve. — Paul Imig (@Paulimig) August 19, 2014

According to multiple reports, however, the team wants to keep Lyerla around the organization for the 2014 season and both helpm him continue to acclimate to life in the NFL and keep his contract rights exclusive to the Packers. Our best wishes go out to Lyerla for his recovery and for a successful return to football in 2015.

With Lyerla out for the year and Brandon Bostick recently suffering an injury of his own that will keep him out a few weeks, it seems reasonable that the team will want to bring in an additional body at the tight end position. Currently, five players are healthy and on the roster: rookie third-round pick Richard Rodgers, undrafted rookie Justin Perillo, second-year pro Jake Stoneburner, and veterans Andrew Quarless and Ryan Taylor.

Lyerla, to his credit, is taking a positive attitude to the situation: