Not Just Love: Least-Experienced Backups Under Microscope, Too
GREEN BAY, Wis. – It’s accurate to say all eyes will be on new Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love. However, it will be worth stealing a glance to monitor the backup battle between Danny Etling and Sean Clifford.
Not only will the Packers have a young starter, with Love’s three-year resume consisting of one start and meaningful playing time in only two other games, but they’ll have an inexperienced backup.
Etling entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick in 2018. Etling, who will turn 29 about a week before the start of training camp, hasn’t played in a game in his career, let alone thrown a pass or started a game.
Clifford was a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft.
Based on projected depth charts, the Packers are the only team in the NFL whose No. 2 quarterback hasn’t thrown a pass. After the draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst said he’d let those two battle it out before deciding to add a veteran.
It would be a roll of the dice to go young, though there might not be any choice because the backup market was hit hard in free agency.
Among the things Love has to prove is whether he’s able to handle the rigors of a 17-game season. Last year, Aaron Rodgers was one of eight quarterbacks to start all 17 games. Half the teams required the backup to start at least two games.
In all, 69 quarterbacks started at least one game last year. That includes 43 who started at least four games. So, it’s certainly a possibility – perhaps even a probability – that Etling or Clifford will have to play meaningful snaps.
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano ranked the backup quarterbacks. Clifford – working under the assumption he beats out Etling – is No. 31. The only surprise is that Clifford ranked ahead of anyone – in this case, Jacksonville’s C.J. Beathard.
“It’s all opportunity,” Clifford said at rookie camp. “Coach (Matt) LaFleur put up yesterday, ‘Opportunity is either nowhere or now here.’ It’s really about the opportunity is now here. For all of us – not only myself but the other guys in the class. I don’t look at it as pressure. I’m trying to focus on what I can do first and how I can help others. I really don’t look at it as I’m trying to win this, win that. I’m just trying to get better every single day.”
The Los Angeles Chargers, with Easton Stick (one pass) and Max Duggan (rookie) working behind star Justin Herbert, are floating in a similar boat. So are the Detroit Lions, with Nate Sudfeld (37 passes but none since 2020) and Hendon Hooker (rookie) behind veteran Jared Goff.
Otherwise, Green Bay is in a rare situation. Half the league’s backups have started a season’s worth of games. Ten have thrown at least 1,000 passes.
Here is the projected No. 2 quarterback for each team via Ourlads, listed in order of career pass attempts. In the couple instances in which a rookie might be the No. 2, the veteran No. 3 is listed, as well.
Carolina: Andy Dalton – 162 starts, 5,396 passes.
New Orleans: Jameis Winston – 80 starts, 2,835 passes.
Philadelphia: Marcus Mariota – 74 starts, 2,095 passes.
Pittsburgh: Mitchell Trubisky – 55 starts, 1,765 passes.
San Francisco (with Trey Lane and Sam Darnold battling to replace injured Brock Purdy): Darnold – 55 starts, 1,765 passes. Lance – 4 starts, 102 passes.
Washington: Jacoby Brissett – 48 starts, 1,577 passes.
N.Y. Giants: Tyrod Taylor – 53 starts, 1,550 passes.
Kansas City: Blaine Gabbert – 48 starts, 1,533 passes.
Las Vegas: Brian Hoyer – 40 starts, 1,518 passes.
Cincinnati: Trevor Siemian – 30 starts, 1,055 passes.
Houston (assuming rookie C.J. Stroud is the starter): Davis Mills – 26 starts, 873 passes.
Atlanta: Taylor Heinicke – 25 starts, 830 passes.
Seattle: Drew Lock – 21 starts, 710 passes.
Buffalo: Kyle Allen – 19 starts, 704 passes.
Minnesota: Nick Mullens – 17 starts, 655 passes.
N.Y. Jets: Zach Wilson – 22 starts, 625 passes.
Jacksonville (assuming rookie Bryce Young is the starter): C.J. Beathard – 12 starts, 510 passes.
Arizona (with Colt McCoy – 36 starts, 1,220 passes – starting for injured Kyler Murray): Clayton Tune – rookie. Or Jeff Driskel – 11 starts, 365 passes.
Baltimore: Tyler Huntley – 8 starts, 305 passes.
Chicago: P.J. Walker – 7 starts, 228 passes.
Dallas: Cooper Rush – 6 starts, 212 passes.
Miami: Mike White – 7 starts, 191 passes.
Denver: Jarrett Stidham – 2 starts, 131 passes.
L.A. Rams: Stetson Bennett – rookie. Brett Rypien – 3 starts, 130 passes.
Indianapolis (assuming veteran Gardner Minshew – 24 starts, 933 passes) is the Week 1 starter): Anthony Richardson – rookie. Or Sam Ehlinger – 3 starts, 101 passes.
New England: Bailey Zappe – 2 stats, 92 passes.
Cleveland: Joshua Dobbs – 2 starts, 85 passes.
Tennessee: Will Levis – rookie. Or Malik Willis – 3 starts, 61 passes.
Detroit: Nate Sudfeld – 0 starts, 37 passes.
Tampa Bay (assuming Baker Mayfield is the starter): Kyle Trask – 0 starts, 9 passes. (No. 3 quarterback John Wolford has started four games and thrown 104 passes).
L.A. Chargers: Easton Stick – 0 starts, 1 pass.
Green Bay: Danny Etling – 0 starts, 0 passes. Or Sean Clifford – rookie.
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