One day after the Green Bay Packers removed Jordan Love from the injury list, the team felt compelled to add another quarterback to the roster ahead of Sunday’s Wild Card playoff game with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Packers signed quarterback Sean Clifford to the 53-man roster so he can serve as an emergency backup to Love if needed in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card game against the host Philadelphia Eagles, the team announced Saturday.
Love is off the injury list and is expected to start Sunday, with backup QB Malik Willis also expected to be ready to play but both have been dealing with injuries this week. Willis injured his right (throwing) thumb against the Bears, but was a full practice participant on Friday for the second straight day and was cleared for the game.
More importantly, Love made solid progress throughout the week after leaving the Packers’ Week 18 loss to Chicago with a right elbow injury. He was a full practice participant on Thursday and Friday and wasn’t given an injury designation.
‘He did well,’ Packers coach Matt LaFleur said after practice. ‘Today was a good day.’
Fans were nonetheless perplexed by the move on Saturday.
Starter Jordan Love (pictured) is off the injury list and is expected to start Sunday
The Packers signed quarterback Sean Clifford (pictured) to the 53-man roster so he can serve as an emergency backup to Love if needed in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card game
Love is off the injury list and is expected to start Sunday, with backup QB Malik Willis (pictured) also expected to be ready to play but both have been dealing with injuries this week
‘Wtf his mean?’ asked one fan on X.
‘Hmm….ofc Loves elbow is cooked isn’t it??’ another wondered.
Love passed for 3,389 yards and 25 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 15 games this season.
Clifford, Green Bay’s fifth-round pick (149th overall) from the 2023 NFL Draft, had been on the Packers’ practice squad.
His only NFL action came in 2023 when he appeared in two games. Clifford stepped in for Love late in Green Bay’s Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears, having one rush for no gain. He completed a 37-yard pass to Bo Melton in Week 17’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings as his only other game play.
Green Bay will be without receiver Christian Watson, who sustained an ACL tear in his right knee against the Bears. Safety Zayne Anderson (concussion) also was ruled out.
Five Packers are listed as questionable, including standout linebacker Quay Walker (ankle). Walker missed the past three games.
The others are offensive tackle Andre Dillard (concussion), safety Evan Williams (quadriceps) and defensive linemen Brenton Cox Jr. (foot) and Tedarrell Slaton (ankle).
