The Green Bay Packers signed quarterback Sean Clifford from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Saturday, filling an open roster spot and providing depth at a position where two players are coming off injuries.
Clifford, the team’s backup quarterback in 2023, can now serve as the emergency third quarterback without taking up a gameday roster spot — meaning he’ll be technically inactive on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles but could play if Jordan Love and Malik Willis both suffer injuries.
Love and Willis both practiced in full on Thursday and Friday of this week but are coming off injuries in the season finale. Love injured his right elbow, while Willis injured his right thumb. At one point last Sunday, the Packers were considered putting Love back into the game against the Chicago Bears after Willis injured his thumb in the fourth quarter.
Clifford spent the entire 2024 season on the practice squad. He was elevated twice from the practice squad — in Weeks 2 and 3 — after Love injured his knee and missed two games. Clifford served as the backup behind Willis in wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans.
The Packers had an open roster spot after placing Jaire Alexander on injured reserve last week.
The Packers did not elevate a player from the practice squad to the gameday roster for the NFC Wild Card Round, potentially suggesting questionable players such as linebacker Quay Walker and safety Evan Williams will play Sunday against the Eagles.