The Green Bay Packers won their second game of the preseason, 23-19 versus the Colts, and in the process got a further look at each of the roster’s backup QBs.
Malik Willis, the default QB2 option, started the game, followed by Taylor Elgersma near the end of the first half and for most of the second. Sean Clifford came in for the final offensive drive with Green Bay down by 3 and capped off a game-winning effort with an 11-yard touchdown scramble.
Overall, though, it was Elgersma who impressed more, making his case for QB3 heading into the last preseason contest next week.
Elgersma leads three successful drives after Packers stagnated for most of first half
For the game, Elgersma went 7-11 for 109 yards. Although he did not record a passing touchdown, he captained a pair of scoring drives to begin the second half, after leading the offense to a field goal just before halftime. If not for two illegal formation penalties on offensive lineman Anthony Belton, negating a touchdown throw and then a pass play down to the Colts 3-yard line, the possession could have resulted in another seven points.
While on the whole Elgersma was more hampered by his own team’s penalty mistakes, it is worth noting that he had an interception called back due to a facemask called on the Indianapolis defense. That drive resulted in the Packers’ first touchdown of the game.
In his only opportunity on the field, Clifford went 1-4 for 11 yards through the air and carried the ball twice for 20 yards (not counting the game-ending kneel down after the Colts turned it over on downs in the final seconds).
Signed out of the Canadian Football League this spring, Elgersma is more of an unknown than Clifford, whom the Packers drafted out of Penn State in 2023 at No. 149 overall. In the preseason. In the NFL, Clifford did not enter a game last season. As a rookie he appeared twice, completing his sole pass attempt for 37 yards.
Despite his sub-radar status, Elgersma has a shot to leapfrog Clifford on the depth chart this season, especially after a strong outing today.
For his part, Willis completed 6 of 14 passes totaling 83 yards. Jordan Love did not appear in the game. 1-1 after beating the Colts, Green Bay wraps up the preseason on August 23 versus Seattle.
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