Lyerla placed on IR after clearing waivers

Colt Lyerla is staying with the Green Bay Packers.

The rookie tight end cleared waivers on Tuesday and was placed on the Packers' injured reserve list. He'll remain under team control, but won't be allowed to play or practice this season.

The three-year contract he signed with the Packers following his tryout in May has a split salary-clause, so he'll make $303,000 for the season so long as he remains on injured reserve.

The Packers took a similar path last season with 2013 seventh-round pick Kevin Dorsey, who missed most of the offseason program and training camp with lower body injuries.

Lyerla, 22, tore his medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligament in his knee while attempting to hurdle cornerback Jumal Rolle during the team's Family Night practice on Aug. 2.

He likely would have been a mid-round selection in May's NFL draft, but wasn't even signed immediately afterward because of numerous off-the-field incidents, including his controversial Twitter comments on the Sandy Hook shooting and a cocaine arrest.

Lyerla played in 28 games for the Ducks in three seasons before quitting the team in October.

"What he's been through in the past, to me, it's the past and it's a learning experience that hopefully he carries forward," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "At the end of the day, we feel very good about our program. We try to put a support group around all of our players, and Colt's no different. He did get more attention, obviously, there at the beginning. I feel like we've got him on a good path."

-whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.