One of the biggest questions fans are asking about the Green Bay Packers this week is who will step in if something happens to star quarterback Jordan Love in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. All summer, Sean Clifford was the primary backup quarterback to hold onto the job after being challenged by rookie draft pick Michael Pratt until the team made cutdowns by signing Malik Willis from the Tennessee Titans.
Now Clifford, who has two training camps under his belt, is on the practice squad while Willis, who is entering a new system, is on the 53-man roster, so the uncertainty about who would be better prepared for live action on Friday is understandable.
After Sunday’s practice, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur explained that both quarterbacks met with scout teams in the opening practice of the week. LaFleur mentioned that no decision has been made yet on which player will be the backup for Green Bay against the Eagles, as their play in practice during the week will dictate that.
Considering how little Willis has practiced with the Packers, no one should blame the coaching staff for waiting too long to decide on the backup quarterback. Here’s an interesting subplot, though: If Green Bay names Clifford the backup, which would mean bringing him up from the practice squad, then Willis would be allowed to enter the game as the third quarterback even if he were one of the six inactive players on the Packers’ 53-man roster based on the NFL’s third quarterback rule — but only if Clifford also suffers an injury that puts him out of action for the rest of the game.
Practice squad players are only allowed to be added to the game-day roster three times during a season, so making Clifford an active player has consequences. Those increases reset during the postseason, so the team at least doesn’t have to factor the value of a third quarterback for a playoff game into its calculations.
