The Green Bay Packers have one of the NFL‘s best offenses, but they have not had notable production from the tight end position since a severe neck injury ended Jermichael Finley’s career during the 2013 season. Andrew Quarless took over as the Packers’ No. 1 tight end last year, starting 11 games, but late in the season and into the playoffs he basically split snaps equally with rookie Richard Rodgers.

His regular season stats (20 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns) don’t jump off the page, but over the final four games of last season (counting the playoffs) Rodgers had 12 receptions for 101 yards with a touchdown while being targeted at least three times in three of those games. The Packers reportedly have no plans to release Quarless after his July 4 arrest, but a plan already seemed to be in place for Rodgers to have a bigger role this year. Green Bay is in line to carry four other tight ends into training camp right now (Kennard Backman, Justin Perillo, Harold Spears and Mitchell Henry), but the battle for the starting job is clearly a two-horse race.

Rodgers is not a finished product as a blocker, but no less an authority than quarterback Aaron Rodgers has praised his ability to catch the ball. That alone puts the younger Rodgers in line for a bigger role in the Packers’ offense during his second season, even if Quarless is a superior blocker right now and will likely play a fair amount himself.

Quarless may avoid a suspension from the league in the short-term, but I think the Packers could change course and cut him during training camp based on his talent level alone (or lack thereof). A decision to let Quarless go would serve as a sign that Rodgers is considered ready to be the team’s clear cut top tight end, in all facets of the game, unless of course another viable option is quickly signed.

Rodgers is a fairly popular breakout candidate for 2015, but it’s clear he won’t be handed the starting job. Camp and preseason games will be an opportunity for Rodgers to clearly outperform Quarless, while building rapport with the quarterback that shares his surname, and I think the Packers will have the pass-catching tight end they lacked last season in short order.

Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.