Packers 2021 roster preview: Make-or-break year for Jace Sternberger

Two years into his career with the Green Bay Packers, tight end Jace Sternberger is yet to make a significant impact on offense.

He’ll miss the opening two games of the 2021 season due to suspension but will aim to earn a bigger role on offense when he returns.

This is an important season for Sternberger, a third-round pick by the Packers two years ago.

2020 stats

Sternberger played in 12 games with zero starts. He caught 12 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.

2020 review

Clearly, Sternberger didn’t make the impact many expected in his second season. Part of that was due to a breakout year from Robert Tonyan, who earned a full-time role at the tight end position. Marcedes Lewis was also a key player on offense. That left fewer opportunities for Sternberger, who made just 12 catches in the regular season.

Sternberger missed some time due to a concussion, but was also a healthy scratch late in the year.

Will he make the roster?

Yes. The Packers will be hoping their former third-round pick can earn a bigger role on offense this year. It can take time for tight ends, so the hope is year three can be a big one for Sternberger.

What to expect in 2021

If this proves to be a breakout season for Sternberger, it will have to wait until Week 3. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Sternberger has been suspended for the first two games of the regular season for “violating the NFL Policy and Program on Substances of Abuse”.

That means he’ll be eligible to make his season debut against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.

An excellent receiving tight end at Texas A&M, hopefully this will be the year Sternberger becomes a key contributor in the Packers’ offense. It could be a make-or-break year for Sternberger. Entering year three, hopefully he can earn more snaps.