Rodgers 'a little surprised' Packers cut Sherrod

Of all the injuries Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has witnessed during his career, Derek Sherrod's broken leg still is memorable.

Rodgers called Sherrod's injury in 2011 against the Kansas City Chiefs "one of the more horrific" he's ever witnessed. Green Bay's former right tackle – a former first-round pick – took two years to return to the field.

"That was gruesome," Rodgers said Tuesday on his weekly ESPN Milwaukee radio show. "And then two years of just trying to get back, and this year it was fun to see him back out there."

Sherrod made his first career start earlier this season after missing 26 straight regular season games in 2012 and 2013, but he routinely struggled. On Tuesday, the Packers waived Sherrod to make room for offensive lineman J.C. Tretter, who's returning from injured reserve.

Rodgers said he was "a little surprised" to see Sherrod cut only three years after the Packers spent a first round draft choice on him.

"He is one of the more fun teammates to be around," Rodgers said. "He was always smiling. He's got a real great, dry sense of humor. I really enjoyed having Derek around here. He just had the really unfortunate injury that set him back a couple years, but I wish Derek well and really enjoyed spending time with him. He's a great teammate and a great guy."

It's unknown what role Tretter will play when he returns to the team this week. Green Bay spent the offseason preparing the second-year offensive lineman to be the starting center, but rookie Corey Linsley has sealed that job in Tretter's absence.

Tretter played tackle at Cornell. At 6-foot-4, 307 pounds, he also has an ideal frame to play guard. Rodgers said Tretter's versatility is a strength.

"He's a smart guy," Rodgers said. "He's very detailed in his preparation. He's a guy who can play all five positions. He played tackle in college, and obviously he proved in the preseason he can play center, and see if we might work him in there at guard, possibly."

-rwood@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ByRyanWood