Watertown High School graduate and defensive lineman released by the Green Bay Packers

Spencer Waege’s dreams of the National Football League are once again on hold.

The South Shore native and 2017 Watertown High School graduate was released by the NFL's Green Bay Packers on Tuesday. NFL teams had until 3 p.m. Tuesday to trim their initial rosters to 53 before the start of the 2024 season. An additional 16 players can be kept on the practice squad.

The 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive lineman signed with the Packers in May and played in the team's first two preseason games this month, recording a quarterback sack in a 23-10 win over the Cleveland Browns and two solo tackles in a 27-2 loss to the Denver Broncos.

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A media report last week indicated that the former North Dakota State standout was placed in the NFL's concussion protocol and he reportedly did not play in his team's final preseason game, a 30-7 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Waege was signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of North Dakota State following the 2023 NFL Draft. He was on the 49ers' 90-man roster for most of training camp and played 54 snaps in the preseason, defending one pass and assisting on one tackle.

Waege was a two-time FCS All-American as a defensive end at NDSU, but was used primarily as a defensive tackle by the 49ers. They released Waege before the start of the 2023 regular season and called him up to the practice squad for the final three months of the regular season.

The 49ers released Waege again in May and he signed with the Packers a few days later.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or by email: [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: South Shore native Spencer Waege released by Green Bay Packers