The Green Bay Packers devoted significant time this offseason to assessing their options for a backup quarterback behind Jordan Love.
Despite having Sean Clifford, a fifth-round pick from 2023, as the backup last season, the team aimed to ensure they had the highest quality player in that role. Consequently, they selected Michael Pratt in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, both Clifford and Pratt underperformed in the preseason. Their lackluster showings led Green Bay to trade a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Malik Willis to back up Love.
As fans know, Love suffered a sprained MCL during the Packers’ Week One loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paolo, Brazil. While avoiding a season-ending injury, the Packers might need to play at least three games without him.
Following Love’s injury, fans and analysts began advocating for the team to sign veteran free agent Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill, who played for the Titans last season, had a completion rate of 64.8 percent, throwing for 1,616 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 10 games.
Recent reports suggested the Packers had contacted Tannehill to potentially fill in as their starting quarterback while Love is sidelined. However, NFL insiders have confirmed these reports are inaccurate.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network stated that the Packers have not, and will not, pursue Tannehill or any other veteran quarterbacks while Love is out. The Packers expect Love to return sooner than the initial 3-6 week timeline and are concentrating on preparing Malik Willis and Sean Clifford.
Some fans and analysts believed Tannehill would be a good fit for Green Bay due to his previous connection with Matt LaFleur, who was the Titans’ offensive coordinator. However, this is a misconception, as LaFleur was with the Titans in 2018, but Tannehill joined the team in 2019. LaFleur became the Packers’ head coach in 2019.
A backup quarterback is meant to step in when the starter is unavailable. The Packers have chosen Willis for this role, and if they had wanted Tannehill, they would have signed him earlier in the offseason.
