Practice session kick-off for Jordan Love with the Packers, alongside additional updates from their practice session
Green Bay Packers to Feature All Four Quarterbacks in Preseason Opener
In a departure from past seasons, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has announced that all four quarterbacks—Jordan Love, Tim Boyle-Willis, Bo Nix Clifford, and Dylan Elgersma—will see meaningful playing time in the team's preseason opener against the New York Jets.
This decision marks a significant shift from previous years, where starters were often rested early in preseason games. The change reflects an increased emphasis on evaluating the full quarterback room, given the competitive battle for backup roles behind Love.
According to LaFleur, the aim is to give Love some early rhythm with the first-team offense, while avoiding dominating all quarterback snaps to minimize injury risk. Clifford and Elgersma are set to receive near-quarter or quarter-and-a-half snaps each to determine a reliable third-string QB or emergency option. Willis will also get some playing time, although the focus is on the competition between Clifford and Elgersma as potential backups.
This strategy is likely driven by the Packers' need to thoroughly assess quarterback depth. Jordan Love continues as the presumed starter but requires some game reps early for confidence. The backup competition is heating up, with Clifford having experience in the system but Elgersma pushing for the spot after impressive preseason camp performances. The importance of a third-string quarterback who can be trusted in case of injury or emergencies during the regular season cannot be overstated.
The implications of this approach include a more competitive quarterback room, potentially increasing motivation but also some pressure on Clifford, who must prove himself quickly. There is also the potential for injury risk to be spread among multiple QBs rather than concentrating it on one starter.
By getting first-team offense reps with Love early in the preseason, the team hopes to be better prepared for the regular season, rather than just relying on camp practices. This strategy should provide LaFleur and his coaching staff with enhanced decision-making data on roster and depth chart choices.
Meanwhile, Bo Melton, who previously played wide receiver for the Packers, has been working primarily at cornerback in training camp. Melton even got some first-team reps on defense Thursday while Nate Hobbs was unavailable and Keisean Nixon was held out of team drills. Melton is looking forward to testing himself in a game situation at cornerback.
The Green Bay Packers opened the regular season with lopsided losses to the New Orleans Saints in 2021 and Minnesota Vikings in 2022, after sitting out preseason games. The team's mentality remains focused on urgency and learning from any preseason setbacks, as LaFleur has stressed the importance of developing through these games and practices.
[1] Source: PackersNews [2] Source: ESPN [3] Source: USA Today [4] Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [5] Source: Pro Football Talk
The Green Bay Packers' decision to feature all four quarterbacks in the preseason opener indicates a shift towards evaluating the full quarterback room, with a focus on American football games rather than just training camp practices. Bo Melton, who has been working at cornerback in training camp, is looking forward to testing himself in a game situation at this new position.
