Are Packers About to Turn to Sean Clifford?

Sean Clifford might be about to get his shot with the Green Bay Packers.

With Packers quarterback Jordan Love mired in inconsistency through Green Bay’s first seven games of a season that was set to serve as the organization’s chance to evaluate his ability to be the franchise quarterback of the future, there are rumblings a change could be in the offing.

Green Bay is reeling, having lost four in a row and five of its last six games, with Love competing just 57.7 percent of his passes for 1,492 yards with 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

At least one analyst believes head coach Matt LaFleur and the Packers could turn to Clifford, chosen in the fifth-round of April’s NFL Draft

“The inconsistencies of the Packers offense,” NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms said. “It’s even more than I thought it would be. I wonder with them if they’re going to start talking or getting Sean Clifford ready to go, ‘Hey, you might need to come in here if we go through another first half like we did yesterday where Jordan Love and the offense are that inept.”

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Clifford completed 61.4 percent of his passes during a 53-game career in Happy Valley, for 10,661 yards with 86 passing touchdowns to 31 interceptions.

It remains to be seen, and would seem unlikely, that Clifford could develop into the Packers’ long-term answer. But, if Love continues to struggle, there could be some value in getting the former Penn State standout some playing time.

But, general manager Brian Gutekunst even admits that the organization is going to need to see more from Love, in order to commit to not prioritizing adding a quarterback during the upcoming offseason.

“I hope not,” Gutekunst told reporters. “I think we’ve got 10 games left. It’s gonna be a very important 10 games. I think he’s done a lot of really good things. I really like the way he’s responded to adversity, how he’s led the team.”

Whether the Packers make any quarterback switch anytime soon remains to be seen, but, it would appear likelier than ever that Clifford gets some playing time at some point this season, unless Love suddenly turns things around.