The Green Bay Packers have terminated the contract of tight end RJ Maryland with an injury settlement, ending the undrafted free agent’s brief tenure with the organization.
Maryland, who had been placed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury early in training camp, was released from IR in mid-August 2026, allowing him to become a free agent once the settlement is finalized.
Maryland signed with the Packers shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent out of SMU. The 6-foot-3, 236-pound tight end arrived in Green Bay with a reputation as a vertical threat and mismatch piece, highlighted by his athleticism.
At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, one of the fastest times among tight ends, and displayed the kind of seam-stretching speed that had drawn interest from several teams. Packers coaches hoped that production and explosiveness would translate once he recovered fully from a prior college injury.
During his four seasons with the SMU Mustangs from 2022 through 2025, Maryland established himself as one of the more productive tight ends in program history.
He appeared in 46 games with 32 starts, finishing his collegiate career with 113 receptions for 1,495 yards—the most receiving yards by a tight end in SMU history—and 19 touchdowns.
His best statistical season came in 2023, when he recorded 34 catches for 518 yards and seven scores, earning first-team All-ACC recognition. A torn ACL midway through the 2024 campaign limited him that year, and while he returned for his senior season, the residual effects of the knee injury appeared to temper some of his big-play ability.
Maryland’s time in Green Bay proved short-lived. After participating in the early stages of training camp, he suffered a hamstring injury that kept him off the practice field.
On Aug. 4, the Packers waived both Maryland and fellow tight end Luke Lachey with injury designations to create roster space, subsequently signing replacements. Maryland cleared waivers and was placed on injured reserve. Rather than keep him there for the remainder of the season, the team opted for an injury settlement, a common move that provides the player compensation while freeing a roster spot.
The decision reflects the competitive and often unforgiving nature of NFL roster construction, particularly at a position where the Packers have dealt with multiple injuries in recent months.
For Maryland, the settlement offers an opportunity to rehabilitate and pursue a fresh start with another franchise. At just 22 years old and with a strong college production track record, the son of former No. 1 overall pick and Super Bowl champion Russell Maryland still possesses the tools that once made him an intriguing undrafted prospect.
Whether he lands elsewhere in 2026 or continues his recovery into the following offseason, his SMU résumé and athletic profile suggest his professional journey is far from over.
