The Green Bay Packers know who their starting quarterback will be when the regular season gets under way. Barring injuries, Jordan Love will be the man under center against the Lions. Malik Willis will be the second stringer. But throughout training camp, there has been a battle that will go down to the wire. The Packers quarterback battle will go down to the final preseason game.
Packers Quarterback Battle Will go Down to the Final Preseason Game: The More Experienced Candidate
The more experienced candidate fighting for the QB3 spot is Sean Clifford. The Packers selected the Penn State alum in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Clifford served as the Packers backup quarterback that season and appeared in two games, mostly in mop up duty. In fact, Clifford has thrown just one pass in his NFL career, a 37-yard pass to Bo Melton that pushed Melton over 100 yards for the game.
In 2024, the Packers added Michael Pratt in the draft. Neither quarterback impressed the coaching staff in the preseason, so the Packers acquired Willis from the Tennessee Titans during the week between the end of the preseason and the start of the regular season. GM Brian Gutekunst opted to keep Clifford over Pratt on the practice squad which is where Clifford stayed for all of the 2024 campaign.
In training camp and the preseason this year, Clifford has had his moments. He did lead the Packers to victory in their final drive against Indianapolis. It was his only drive of the game. However, he accomplished that mostly with his legs and not his arm. Clifford completed just 1-of-4 passes for 11 yards. However, he gained 19 yards on three runs including scoring the game winning touchdown from 11 yards out.
The previous week against the Jets, Clifford played more extensively. He completed 2-of-4 passes for 14 yards in that contest.
The Newcomer
While Gutekunst had stated he would be drafting a developmental quarterback in the late rounds most years, he did not add one in 2025. However, after the draft, he signed Taylor Elgersma as an undrafted free agent.
Elgersma had just won the Hec Crighton Trophy in 2024 as the best player in Canadian college football. It is the equivalent of the Heisman Torphy. He earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl and played well enough to attract the Packers interest.
Elgersma played just one series late in the Packers loss to the Jets. He completed 3-of-4 passes for 24 yards in limited action.
However, he got more playing time against the Colts. Elgersma got the Packers back into the game in the second half and led them to two touchdown drives. He completed 7-of-11 passes for 109 yards. He also scrambled once for four yards.
Packers Quarterback Battle Will go Down to the Final Preseason Game: A Difficult Decision
Head coach Matt LaFleur and Gutekunst will have a tough choice when final cuts are made. Both quarterbacks have advantages and drawbacks if they are kept as QB3.
Clifford has more experience and certainly knows the offense better than Elgersma after spending two seasons with the Packers. He also has strong leadership qualities. What has held Clifford back and what limits his future in a lack of elite NFL arm strength.
Elgersma has a strong arm. His nickname is “The Canadian Cannon” because he can make all the throws required of an NFL quarterback. But he also has a lot more to learn as he makes the adjustment from Canadian football to the NFL. In the game against the Colts, there were times when he didn’t get the ball out quickly enough and you almost see him thinking in the pocket and going through his progressions.
The decision may come down to how the Packers front office and coaching staff view the third quarterback job. If they want someone who can step in right away and play if both Love or Willis are unavailable, then Clifford will likely be the player they keep.
However, if the Packers view the third quarterback spot as a developmental position, Elgersma has the higher, long-term upside because of his arm strength and physical tools. Once he adjusts to the NFL game and learns the offense, Elgersma could have a bright future.
How both Elgersma and Clifford play in the preseason finale, and the remainder of training camp will decide who will be the third quarterback this season. The winner will start the season on the practice squad while the loser will be looking for a job elsewhere. It will not be as easy decision.
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