The Green Bay Packers endured a challenging start to their season, facing two significant setbacks in their opening game. The team suffered a narrow defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL’s historic first game held in Brazil, and they also lost their starting quarterback, Jordan Love, to an injury late in the match. While the full extent of Love’s injury is still unclear, early reports suggest that he might be out for an extended period, possibly including the upcoming week. According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, Love’s status has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful. In response, the Packers have activated second-year quarterback Sean Clifford, who had previously been on the practice squad.
Clifford, drafted by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, has limited NFL experience. He has only attempted one pass in his professional career, which he successfully completed for a 37-yard gain. Additionally, he has had three rushing attempts, resulting in a net loss of two yards. With Love’s absence, Malik Willis is anticipated to start. Willis, who attempted a failed Hail Mary on the Packers’ final play against the Eagles, is expected to step in as the primary quarterback.
Clifford’s college career at Penn State was notably more prolific. Over his six years at the university, he only sat out one season in 2017 and threw just seven passes in 2018. However, he started 46 games in his final four seasons, amassing over 10,000 passing yards and 86 touchdowns. Clifford also made a mark as a rusher, accumulating over 1,000 rushing yards and scoring 15 touchdowns on the ground.
Willis, who was drafted a year before Clifford, was selected by the Tennessee Titans as the 86th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He began his college career at Auburn but gained prominence at Liberty. Willis’s time with the Titans has been brief; he spent two seasons with the team and saw limited action. He started three games as a rookie, securing one victory, but has yet to throw an NFL touchdown, although he has rushed for one. Willis has also thrown three interceptions in his 67 career passing attempts.
As the Packers prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, they face the uncertainty of relying on young, relatively inexperienced quarterbacks. The team will benefit from the home advantage at Lambeau Field, but it will be crucial to see how Willis performs and whether Clifford might get an opportunity if needed. Should Love’s recovery take longer than expected, the Packers might need to explore free agency or trades to strengthen their quarterback position and remain competitive in the tough NFC North division.