Jeff Saturday benched by Packers

Jeff Saturday won’t be starting at center for the Packers on Sunday. (Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)

Veteran center Jeff Saturday will start this Sunday’s Green Bay Packers game from the bench, according to ESPNWisconsin’s Jeff Wilde.The center has been dealing with neck and shoulder issues and missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, though he claimed the benching was not due to medical issues.

The benching will be one of a mere handful of times Saturday will not start in his long NFL career. The former Indianapolis Colt has started every regular season game 10 times in his 14 years in the league. Saturday won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts in 2006 and has made the Pro Bowl five times. He moved to the Packers as a free agent this past offseason.

Third-year center Evan Dietrich-Smith will take Saturday’s place in a move Saturday himself called a “passing of the torch.”

Jeff Saturday confirms he has been benched as the #Packers starting center in favor of Evan Dietrich-Smith. Calls it a passing of the torch,—
Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) December 21, 2012

Saturday missed Wednesday/Thursday practices with neck/shoulder. Is decision medical-related? Saturday: "I don't think so." #Packers—
Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) December 21, 2012