Packers Coach Offers Blunt Assessment on Backup QB and Kicking Situations

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur has a lot on his plate as the team wraps up its preseason and faces the looming roster cuts.

One of the biggest questions revolves around the backup quarterback position, where Sean Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt have both had their moments—but also their fair share of struggles.

In the Packers’ preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens, Clifford and Pratt each threw touchdown passes, but that’s where the bright spots began and ended for the most part.

Clifford got off to a rocky start, completing just 3-of-10 passes by halftime, while Pratt threw an interception in the second half that highlighted his inexperience reading an NFL defense. Their combined performance—14 of 26 for 133 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception—wasn’t enough to settle the question of who could step in if Jordan Love, the face of the franchise, goes down with an injury.

When asked about the situation, LaFleur didn’t offer much reassurance.

“We’ll see,” LaFleur told reporters . “Again, similar to the kicking competition, there were some really good moments, and there were some things that we absolutely have to do better. We’ll evaluate everything that is out there for us.”

That uncertainty also applies to the kicker position, where Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph have been neck-and-neck throughout camp in a mostly uninspiring way.

Both kickers had impressive moments during the preseason, including 50-plus yarders from each in the finale against the Baltimore Ravens. However, Carlson missed a crucial 32-yard attempt in seemingly perfect weather conditions, a reminder of the inconsistency that has plagued him.

LaFleur admitted the Packers are considering all options as they approach Tuesday’s deadline to trim the roster to 53 players. With the inconsistency from both the backup quarterbacks and kickers, the Green Bay Packers front office might be looking at the waiver wire to find their answers.

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