Why Clayton Tune Is Starting at QB for the Green Bay Packers Amid Injury Issues
Green Bay, WI – The Green Bay Packers found themselves in a quarterback crisis in Week 17, turning to Clayton Tune to lead the offense after injuries sidelined both Jordan Love and Malik Willis. The situation, while far from ideal, reflects the Packers’ depth challenges at the most important position.
Clayton Tune’s Rough Debut
Tune’s first pass under center ended in an interception. Targeting Bo Melton, the pass was deflected into the hands of a defender for an easy turnover. While unfortunate, it underscored the difficulties facing a backup quarterback thrust into action unexpectedly.
Despite the early mistake, the bigger story is why Tune was playing at all. The Packers had hoped to avoid putting him in the game, but circumstances left them with little choice.
Injuries Force Tune Into Action
The Packers’ quarterback situation was already precarious:
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Jordan Love was sidelined for the week due to a concussion.
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Malik Willis began the game but left after aggravating a previous right shoulder injury.
Willis’s exit mid-game forced the Packers to turn to their emergency quarterback, Clayton Tune. The transition was immediate: Tune ran the first play before throwing the deflected interception on his second attempt.
With the Ravens holding a 10-point lead, Tune’s ability to engineer a comeback was already a tall order.
Packers’ QB Depth Tested
The sudden reliance on Tune highlights the Packers’ thin depth at quarterback. Injuries to both Love and Willis left the team with limited options, forcing an untested signal-caller into a high-pressure situation.
For Tune, the opportunity is a double-edged sword:
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Positive: Valuable in-game experience at the NFL level.
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Negative: High-pressure debut against a leading defense, increasing scrutiny.
Looking Ahead
For Green Bay, the immediate concern is injury recovery and evaluating Tune under live conditions. Both Love and Willis will need to recover fully to provide stability moving forward. In the meantime, the Packers must balance Tune’s development with competitive game planning in a season where each contest carries playoff implications.
Key Takeaways:
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Tune plays because Love and Willis are injured.
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First pass ended in an interception, highlighting the challenge of stepping in unexpectedly.
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Packers’ QB depth is under pressure, and health updates on Love and Willis will determine next steps.
As the Packers navigate the final weeks of the season, Clayton Tune’s experience, while rocky, provides insight into the team’s emergency quarterback readiness—and underscores the importance of keeping depth at the position.
Preferred Source: The Sporting News
