Packers Signed another veteran to Practice Squad after deal was formally reached with both teams
Clifford, who served as the No. 2 quarterback behind Jordan Love last year, will be the No. 3 behind Love and Malik Willis, who was acquired in a trade with the Titans. General manager Brian Gutekunst called the performance of the young quarterbacks, Clifford and Michael Pratt (who signed to Tampa Bay’s practice squad) “underwhelming.”
While Gutekunst anticipates Willis being ready to be the backup on Sept. 6 against the Eagles, Clifford could be in the running to be the early-season backup.
“I think we have confidence in him,” LaFleur said before practice. “I told Sean, I think we’ve seen him play better than all the things we saw throughout the course of the offseason, I would say, from training camp and in those preseason games.
“He’s just got to get back to really the core fundamentals that allow you to play the game fast. Reading with your feet is one of those. But we certainly still have a lot of confidence in Sean. It’s just the circumstance we’re in right now.”
RB Nate McCrary, RB Ellis Merriweather
The Packers kept three running backs: Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson and rookie MarShawn Lloyd, who got two touches during the preseason before suffering a hamstring injury.
Coach Matt LaFleur likes how those players performance in case Lloyd isn’t ready for Week 1. Lloyd rode a stationary bike during the portion of Wednesday’s practice that was open to reporters.
WR Julian Hicks, Jalen Wayne
After losing Grant DuBose to the Dolphins on waivers, Hicks and Wayne will work on the practice squad behind Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton and Malik Heath.
Wayne is the cousin of NFL legend Reggie Wayne while Hicks earned a spot as a tryout player at the rookie camp.
“I’m super-fired up for Grant,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, it was a blessing and a curse to have so many tough decision”
Talk about two opposite stories. Smith was a sixth-round pick in 2022 who started two games as a rookie. He initially landed a spot on the offseason roster at the post-draft rookie camp. Jennings went undrafted and signed with the Packers with $100,000 of his 2024 salary guaranteed.
TE Messiah Swinson
The Packers kept only three tight ends on the 53-man roster after putting Tyler Davis on season-ending injured reserve, so Swinson could be the next man up in a hurry if something were to happen to Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft or Ben Sims.
