Patrick prominent practice-squad candidate

GREEN BAY - Ted Thompson’s decision to release veteran Josh Sitton leaves the Green Bay Packers with only two pure guards on the roster: T.J. Lang on the right and, perhaps, Lane Taylor replacing Sitton on the left.

Beyond that, any depth at the guard position will have to come by way of crossover, with JC Tretter (the team’s starting center) and Don Barclay (the team’s backup center) the most likely candidates.

On the outside looking in was undrafted rookie Luke Patrick, formerly of Duke, who battled through camp despite a serious hand injury that required a casted club. Patrick was released during Saturday's cutdown to the 53-man roster.

“Any goal I set, I think I’m going to reach it,” Patrick told the Journal Sentinel on Saturday night. “I’m of course going to believe in myself. I thought I played well and I thought I showed the Packers everything I had.

“At the end of the day it’s a business decision and I understand that. But I did what I set myself out to do and what I thought would, you know, be my best and put my best foot forward. Just didn’t — the chips didn’t fall the way I wanted them to. But it’s all good. No hard feelings.”

In the wake of Sitton’s departure, Patrick is a prominent candidate for a spot on the practice squad. Sitton told the Journal Sentinel that the Packers “like who they’ve got” behind him on the offensive line, and perhaps developing Patrick figures into Thompson’s long-term plans.

Patrick, whose voice told of his disappointment with Saturday’s events, said he did not have a clear idea of what would happen next.

“With this whole situation I’m just trying to keep everything personal and inside,” Patrick said. “So I don’t really know what’s happening yet. … It’s kind of a tough time to me, so I’m just trying to wait it out and see where (Sunday) heads.”