Packers make inevitable quarterback decision and another roster move ahead of the Ravens game
Green Bay elevated third-stringer Clayton Tune from the practice squad for gameday
The Green Bay Packers had no options. With Jordan Love ruled out on Friday due to a concussion, the team elevated quarterback Clayton Tune from the practice squad for gameday to serve as Malik Willis’ backup QB against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night.
Last week, Love suffered a concussion in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears. Because Tune was on the practice squad, he couldn’t even serve as the emergency third quarterback. Willis also hurt his shoulder on the final play of regulation and had to keep playing. At that point, running back Josh Jacobs and wide receiver Jayden Reed were the emergency QBs.
With Love officially ruled out before the game, the Packers had time to elevate Tune. It’s his first call up from the practice squad this season.
Clayton Tune has no regular season experience, but he’s a quarterback that general manager Brian Gutekunst has liked for quite some time. Back in 2023, Green Bay wanted to take him in the fifth round of the draft, but he was selected 10 picks before by the Arizona Cardinals. The Packers ended up drafting Sean Clifford, who spent his rookie year as Love’s backup and is now with the Cincinnati Bengals.
“[Tune]’s got a pretty good grasp. He’s a smart guy,” head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier this week. “He attacks it the right way. He spends a ton of time with [quarterbacks coach] Sean Mannion post-practice trying to get extra reps, trying to work on his fundamentals and techniques.”
Mid-term outlook for Jordan Love
Jordan Love isn’t ready for Week 17. But, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelisseero, the starting quarterback has a good shot to play next week against the Minnesota Vikings if the Packers are still in the battle for the NFC North title.
If they lose to the Ravens or the Chicago Bears beat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, the Packers might simply opt to sit Love and some other starters in the regular season finale.
Other roster moves
With Tucker Kraft and John FitzPatrick out for the season with significant injuries, the Packers also elevated rookie tight end Drake Dabney for gameday. It’s also his first elevation. Dabney went undrafted this year after playing college football at Baylor and TCU.
NFL practice squad rules
The NFL increased the practice squad size during COVID-19 and kept some of the adjusted rules. Of the 16 players, 10 must have up to two accrued seasons, while the other six have no restrictions. There’s also an extra spot for a player with an International Pathway Program exemption, which Green Bay is using for English defensive tackle Dante Barnett.
Throughout the season, teams can elevate practice squad players for gameday. Each player can be elevated three times for the same team without being a member of the active 53-man roster. After the game, the player reverts to the PS.
Packers’ practice squad elevations in 2025
- Arron Mosby — 3
- Pierre Strong Jr. — 3
- Micah Robinson — 2
- Jamon Dumas-Johnson — 2
- Jaylin Simpson — 1
- Kristian Welch — 1
- Brant Banks — 1
- Lecitus Smith — 1
- Clayton Tune — 1
- Drake Dabney — 1
Packers’ practice squad
S Johnathan Baldwin
LT Brant Banks
TE McCallan Castles
T Dalton Cooper
TE Drake Dabney
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson
DT James Ester
CB Shemar Bartholomew
WR Jakobie Keeney-James
WR Isaiah Neyor
S Jaylin Simpson
IOL Lecitus Smith
RB Pierre Strong Jr.
QB Clayton Tune
WR Will Sheppard
DT Dante Barnett (IPP)
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