As the Green Bay Packers prepared to leave on their 10th annual tailgate tour Tuesday, the moment wasn’t lost on Andrew Quarless.

Standing in front of the decorated tour bus, a smile escaped the Brooklyn, N.Y., native’s expression. It doesn’t seem that long ago the Packers selected him in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Still, there he was — now a sixth-year veteran on a team that’s continually growing younger.

Quarless has seen his share of obstacles the past five years. He blew out his knee against the New York Giants on Dec. 4, 2011, and didn’t play in another regular-season game for 21 months. Upon his return, he had to fight for a roster spot and claw his way back up the tight end depth chart.

He hasn’t missed a game since. In the wake of Jermichael Finley’s neck injury, Quarless has started 22 games over the past two years for the Packers, catching 61 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns.

Now, he’s making the rounds on social functions like the tailgate tour, a five-day trek through the state where current and former players visit schools, hospitals and retirement facilities.

“I think I came a long way,” Quarless said. “I started at Penn State and my high school career back in New York, so to be here today standing in front of you guys is a blessing to me. I’m just trying to continue to grow throughout my career. Really get to the level I know I can get at. This offseason has been really important for me and I’ve been really preparing.”

via Weston Hodkiewicz of Packersnews.com