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Jared Abbrederis has been many things in his football career. He has been a walk-on for the Wisconsin Badgers as a quarterback, a scholarship player, an All-Big Ten receiver, and eventually a draft pick of the Green Bay Packers.
Now, Abbrederis finds himself joining a new NFL organization as he attempts to revitalize his NFL career. The Wautoma, WI native announced today on Twitter where he is headed to spend the next NFL offseason:
I'm very grateful to the @packers for the last 3 years for allowing me to live out my dream! Big thanks to all the fans for all the support!
— Jared Abbrederis (@abbrecadabra) January 9, 2017
I am also very thankful and excited to be joining the @Lions! Can't wait to start the new journey with my new team! Time to get to work!
— Jared Abbrederis (@abbrecadabra) January 9, 2017
In an odd coincidence, Abbrederis’ best game as a Packer came against the Lions, back in week nine of the 2015 season. In that contest, he caught four of seven targets for 57 yards, which accounted for nearly half of his total regular season output. Abbrederis also had four catches for 55 yards in last year’s Divisional Round playoff game in Arizona, but did so on a whopping 12 targets.
Abbrederis was a fifth-round pick of the Packers’ in 2014, but he missed his entire rookie season after tearing his ACL in training camp. He then started the 2015 season on the practice squad before being promoted midway through the year. Finally, he was waived with an injury settlement in late October of 2016.
We wish Abbrederis the best of luck in Detroit, at least when he’s not suiting up against the Packers.