Andrew Quarless

Now that rookie tight end Colt Lyerla has cleared waivers and will return to the Green Bay Packers on injured reserve, his position coach plans to put him to work.

Jerry Fontenot likely will follow a similar same plan he used with tight end Andrew Quarless in 2012, when Quarless missed the entire season while recovering from knee surgery.

To keep Quarless involved, Fontenot would have him write out the test that the tight ends take at the end of the week in order to make sure they're dialed in to the game plan.

For Lyerla, just having the opportunity to be around the team this season should benefit him even though he won't be allowed to practice. He has not practiced since Aug. 2, when he tore both the medial collateral ligament and posterior collateral ligament in his right knee. Lyerla said he will not need surgery, but the injury will take more than a month to heal.

That means it will be another year without game experience for Lyerla, who has not played since he left the University of Oregon last fall.

The Packers are now playing the long game with Lyerla, who would have been a first or second round talent if not for a variety of off field issues.