AUGUST 28: Clifford has cleared waivers and remains in Green Bay’s plans. The Packers are bringing back the former fifth-round pick on a practice squad deal, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.
AUGUST 27: The Packers will need Malik Willis to digest Matt LaFleur‘s playbook quickly, as he is now the only backup quarterback on their roster. Less than 24 hours after acquiring the former Titans draftee, the Packers moved on from their other two non-Jordan Love options.
Green Bay is cutting both Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. Unless the Packers circle back to one of the young passers via the practice squad — assuming one clears waivers — they will not have any non-Love QB who went through its offseason program.
LaFleur expressed disappointment in the team’s backup options after a 27-2 loss to the Broncos, a game that featured Denver starters and mostly Green Bay backups. The outing, however, did not get much better after Broncos starters exited. The Packers have since acquired Willis, who has two years left on his rookie contract. Despite the 2022 third-rounder struggling in Tennessee, he appears poised to be Love’s lone active-roster backup.
Chosen in the 2023 fifth round, Clifford spent last season as Love’s backup. The Aaron Rodgers successor stayed healthy, keeping the Penn State product sidelined. Clifford completed just 51% of his passes during preseason play, averaging just 4.8 yards per attempt. The Pack chose Pratt in this year’s seventh round. It would stand to reason the team — for continuity’s sake, if nothing else — would want one of the signal-callers back on the P-squad, so it will be interesting to see how the team proceeds with this position group Wednesday.
This is certainly quite the swing for Willis, who entered the week as a Titans third-stringer after underwhelming in his rookie-year game action. The Titans fired the GM who drafted Willis (Jon Robinson) and hired a new coaching staff. With Will Levis in place as a Tennessee young QB, Willis suddenly did not make much sense on the team’s roster. The Titans found a trade taker, and despite completing 50.8% of his passes at a ghastly 4.5 yards per attempt, the former Liberty standout has a nice opportunity ahead.
Two years remain on Willis’ rookie deal. Clifford is signed through 2026, though that contract will no longer be active if he goes unclaimed Wednesday.
Presumably at least one of them hangs around the practice squad. Willis is a very dicey QB2. I think Pratt could have a future as a decent backup. If Cleveland is really interested in trading Huntley, this would make a lot of sense as a fit.
If the Packers wanted Huntley, they would have traded for him already and not Willis.
Likely, but a 7th round pick for a likely playoff team isn’t much currency to set on fire if they change their mind.
I’m honestly shocked that Clifford ever got an NFL job.
5-year starter. Think that they were just looking for a high floor cheap backup.
After I saw some of that Bronco’s game I don’t think the Siberian Football League would take either of them.
Cold world. Send Pratt to Buffalo to sit behind Josh and be a solid backup. I saw resign Clifford or he gets a call from Chicago to back up Bagent and Caleb
LOL. He isn’t coming here. Rypien was better than him and they cut him already. Hall is QB on the practice squad. Packers can keep their own trash.
Sorry meant Reed. I wouldn’t count out the Bears keeping 2 QB’s on the Practice squad with Benedet being the 17th guy with that Foreign Player designation.
He has value somewhere don’t you think? Pratt put up big numbers in college. He needs some work for sure.
Not from what i saw. Granted I don’t watch the Packers much but when I did those guys were tragically bad. Sorry if it hurts some feelings. Well not really.
My feelings will be fine I’m not a packers fan. Clifford made plays but he lacks consistency
Me either! LOL
Lol
I would guess at least 1 clears waivers and ends up on their P-squad, and may even be elevated for week 1 (maybe more). If not, and Love goes down the opener it could be ugly with Willis having little time to acclimate himself.
I have to laugh a bit..guys are actively calling Willis a bust because his stats were bad as a rookie-but want to cut Clifford a lot of slack because he ‘only played in preseason games’ (and ignore the fact it was generally against 3rd and 4th string guys).
I mean, I think Clifford had no business being drafted in the first place. I think Willis was worth a look in the NFL, but seeing him on the field since he was drafted, I think he’s a huge liability.
Justin Fields was so bad the Bears moved on from him..and I just saw yesterday that some “experts” feel he should be the guy for Pittsburgh.
I’m not saying Willis is the next big thing, but maybe a change of scenery, different coaching..now seeing his NFL future is in jeopardy..something clicks. I’ll give it some time before I consider the move a failure.
If the Bears hadn’t been in position to draft Caleb Williams, they probably would have let it ride with Fields. Willis isn’t the same caliber of athlete and has looked worse on the field. Maybe a change of scenery and coaching can help, but I’m skeptical.
With a team rich in QBs I guess they know how good they are.