In need of depth after losing Joe Burrow to a multi-month injury, the Cincinnati Bengals are signing former Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford to the team’s practice squad, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Clifford, a Cincinnati native, was a fifth-round pick of the Packers in 2023 and spent two full seasons in Green Bay — the first as Jordan Love’s primary backup in 2023 and the second as the third quarterback on the practice squad in 2024. Clifford played in two games as a rookie, kneeling down three times and completing one pass for 37 yards.
Clifford spent training camp in Green Bay this summer but wasn’t retained as the team’s third quarterback. That job went to former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune, also a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft. After struggling in the preseason in back-to-back years, the Packers wanted to go in a different developmental direction behind Love and Malik Willis, who was acquired via trade last summer after Clifford failed to secure the backup job.
Clifford was born in Illinois but played high school football at St. Xavier in Cincinnati. He led the school to a state title as a senior before enrolling at Penn State, where he went on to start 46 games and set numerous records for the Nittany Lions.
The Packers face the Bengals in Week 6, so having Clifford aboard will both provide depth and give Cincinnati some intel before an upcoming game. Jake Browning, the primary backup, will be the new starter while Burrow recovers.
The Bengals are also signing former Jets quarterback Mike White to the practice squad.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Former Packers QB Sean Clifford joins practice squad of hometown team
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
