Former UTC quarterback B.J. Coleman poses for a portrait at Brown Acres Golf Club in East Brainerd in September.No, the Packers haven't called.
Former McCallie and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga quarterback B.J. Coleman has worked out for four NFL teams since being cut by the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 2, but the Packers, who selected Coleman in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL draft, weren't one of them.
The Packers have been in QB limbo this month following injuries to starter Aaron Rodgers and backup Seneca Wallace, whom Green Bay signed as the No. 2 after cutting Coleman.
Soon after being left go by the Packers, Coleman had a tryout with the New England Patriots. That was followed by workouts with the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks and last Monday with the New York Jets.
"No contact with the Packers, and I haven't talked to any other teams this week," Coleman said Tuesday.
He is using his time off by getting in better shape, spending time with his family and by doing some fall hunting, something he hasn't had time for in many years.
The NFL is in week 12, and though there has been a lot of turnover at quarterback throughout the league, Coleman said the workouts he's participated in are more about the future than the present.
"I think I could be pretty busy these next couple of weeks," he said. "It's all about linking up with the right team, right coach, right situation, and the workouts help."
He said the workouts in which he's participated included numerous other players and involved a physical exam and about 15-30 minutes of on-the-field work. There's no video study, only a physical assessment, he said.
The workouts give a team the chance to take a hard look at the player and, as in recruiting, the player can take a close look at the team.
"If you have a couple of teams interested in you, it's almost like going to college again, where you can pick where you're most comfortable," Coleman said.
One thing that could come from the workout is a reserve or future contract, which would take effect with the start of the "league year" on March 11, 2014. A futures contract is like a practice-squad deal, except it is for the offseason.
"Being in my situation, coming from a smaller school, they're going to look at me in terms of being a developmental guy. They aren't going to want to bring me in right now and save where they're at in the season," Coleman said. "It's more about bringing you into camp and wanting to work with you and develop you and see what we can do with you.
"Right now, they're looking for guys that are experienced."
One former Moc did sign Tuesday, defensive back Chris Lewis-Harris. Waived by the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, he was signed to their practice squad Tuesday. Lewis-Harris spent most of last season on the practice squad and started 2013 there before being signed to the 53-man roster early in the season. He has played in three games this season.
Contact John Frierson at jfrierson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6268. Follow him at twitter.com/MocsBeat.