Retaining another veteran, the Green Bay Packers Tuesday re-signed unrestricted free agent Rod Gardner. Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson made the announcement.
Gardner, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound wide receiver from Clemson, joined the team on waivers late last season to shore up an injury-depleted position. A sizeable, physical target, he played in two Packers games, with one start, catching four passes for 67 yards (16.8 avg.).
Acquired by Carolina in a July trade with Washington, Gardner spent most of the 2005 season with the Panthers. Combined with Carolina and Green Bay last year, he caught 13 passes for 151 yards (11.6 avg.) with one touchdown.
Washington's first-round selection (15th overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft, Gardner started 61 of 64 games for the Redskins over his first four NFL seasons (2001-04), recording a 1,000-yard season in 2002. He had a catch in each of his first 55 NFL games, a streak that ended in 2004, one week after he posted a pair of touchdown receptions in a loss to the Packers at FedEx Field. Over his five-year career, he has 240 receptions for 3,148 yards (13.1 avg.) with 23 touchdowns.
A quarterback in high school and in college on the Clemson scout team, Gardner as an NFL player has completed two of seven passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns. He also lettered in basketball and baseball as a prep.
In addition Tuesday, the Packers activated tight end Garrett Cross from reserve/left squad and released wide receiver Harry Williams.
