Life in the NFL is an uphill climb for an undrafted free agent.
The most common route to an active roster spot for such players is through the practice squad. Garrett Celek broke that mold, making the San Francisco 49ers 53-man roster after not being selected in the 2012 draft.
Three years later, the former Michigan State Spartan is a starter in the 49ers offense. Celek’s five receptions in 2015 are already a career high, and he’s played more than 50 percent of the team’s snaps in each of the first two games.
Knock on wood before reading this sentence, but the best part about this year for Celek has been his continued health throughout the offseason program and the early part of the season.