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Packers Rolling Dice on Most-Inexperienced Backup Quarterbacks

Originally posted on FanNation Packer Central
By Bill Huber | Last updated 8/7/23

The Green Bay Packers released quarterback Danny Etling on Sunday. A seventh-round pick in 2018, he has thrown zero passes in his NFL career.

Of course, zero has been the magic number for the quarterbacks jockeying to be first-time starter Jordan Love’s backup. Between 2023 fifth-round pick Sean Clifford, 2018 seventh-round pick Alex McGough and Etling, the Packers’ backup candidates combined had:

- Zero career starts.

- Zero career games played.

- Zero career passes thrown.

In an acknowledgement that the No. 2 quarterback could spell the difference between a run for the Super Bowl and a long offseason, the veteran quarterback market ran hot this past offseason.

The Packers, reeling from the salary-cap impact of trading Aaron Rodgers, didn’t have the money to pursue the likes of Jacoby Brissett (one year, $8 million with Washington), Taylor Heinicke (two years, $14 million with Atlanta), former first-round picks Marcus Mariota (one year, $5 million with Philadelphia) and Sam Darnold (one year, $4.5 million with San Francisco), or a player they once coveted, Drew Lock (one year, $4 million with Seattle).

General manager Brian Gutekunst said last week he intends to “see who comes out of that group” of inexperienced passers before deciding to explore free agency.

At least for now, the Packers are rolling the dice that either Love is indestructible or Clifford can be the equivalent of Brock Purdy, the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft who came off the bench and led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.

Based on current depth charts, the Packers are the only team whose backup candidates have not thrown a pass in a regular-season game. The Los Angeles Chargers are close, with 2019 fifth-round pick Easton Stick having thrown one pass for 4 yards on his resume.

The Packers, Chargers and Detroit Lions are the only teams without a backup who’s made at least one start. Of course, the Chargers and Lions have proven veteran starters. The Packers don't have that, either.

By contrast, seven teams have two backups who’ve started games.

Here is a look at the backup situations around the NFL, listed in order of passes thrown. Each team’s current No. 2 is listed as well as any other players who’ve started a game.

Carolina Panthers: Andy Dalton (162 starts, 5,396 passes).

Houston Texans: Davis Mills (26 starts, 873 passes), Case Keenum (64 starts, 2,180 passes).

New Orleans Saints: Jameis Winston (80 starts, 2,835 passes).

Pittsburgh Steelers: Mitchell Trubisky (55 starts, 1,765 passes), Mason Rudolph (10 starts, 384 passes).

Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Mariota (74 starts, 2,095 passes).

San Francisco 49ers: Trey Lance (four starts, 102 passes), Sam Darnold (55 starts, 1,765 passes).

Arizona Cardinals: Colt McCoy (36 starts, 1,220 passes), Jeff Driskel (10 starts, 365 passes).

Washington Commanders: Jacoby Brissett (48 starts, 1,577 passes).

New York Giants: Tyrod Taylor (53 starts, 1,550 passes).

Kansas City Chiefs: Blaine Gabbert (48 starts, 1,533 passes).

Las Vegas Raiders: Brian Hoyer (40 starts, 1,518 passes).

Buffalo Bills: Kyle Allen (19 starts, 704 passes), Matt Barkley (seven starts, 363 passes).

Cincinnati Bengals: Trevor Siemian (30 starts, 1,055 passes).

Indianapolis Colts: Gardner Minshew (24 starts, 933 passes), Sam Ehlinger (three starts, 101 passes).

Atlanta Falcons: Taylor Heinicke (25 starts, 830 passes).

New York Jets: Zach Wilson (22 starts, 625 passes), Tim Boyle (three starts, 106 passes).

Seattle Seahawks: Drew Lock (21 starts, 710 passes).

Minnesota Vikings: Nick Mullens (17 starts, 655 passes).

Jacksonville Jaguars: C.J. Beathard (12 starts, 510 passes).

Chicago Bears: P.J. Walker (seven starts, 228 passes), Nathan Peterman (five starts, 160 passes).

Miami Dolphins: Mike White (seven starts, 307 passes).

Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Huntley (eight starts, 305 passes).

Dallas Cowboys: Cooper Rush (six starts, 212 passes).

Denver Broncos: Jarrett Stidham (two starts, 131 passes).

Los Angeles Rams: Stetson Bennett (rookie), Brett Rypien (three starts, 130 passes).

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kyle Trask (zero starts, nine passes), John Wolford (four starts, 104 passes).

New England Patriots: Bailey Zappe (two starts, 92 passes).

Cleveland Browns: Joshua Dobbs (two starts, 85 passes).

Tennessee Titans: Will Levis (rookie), Malik Willis (three starts, 61 passes).

Detroit Lions: Nate Sudfeld (zero starts, 37 passes).

Los Angeles Chargers: Easton Stick (zero starts, one pass).

Green Bay Packers: Sean Clifford (rookie), Alex McGough (zero passes).

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— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) August 7, 2023