The Green Bay Packers are inviting quarterbacks Kurt Benkert and Chad Kelly to rookie minicamp as tryout players on May 14-15, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Benkert and Kelly will give the Packers a pair of arms to operate the minicamp.
Here’s what to know about the Packers’ two tryout quarterbacks:
Kurt Benkert
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 218
College: Virginia
From NFL.com draft profile: “Gunslinger who holsters an NFL-caliber right arm, but needs to work on his marksmanship and decision making. Benkert’s completion totals are disappointing on intermediate throws, deep throws, and against the blitz. He has the arm talent to make all the throws but hasn’t shown signs of becoming accurate enough to ever been anything more than a backup at best.”
– Began collegiate career at East Carolina before transferring to Virginia
– Set Virginia school records for single-season passing yards and completions. Also set school record for passing yards in a single game
– Finished third in school history in passing yards and passing touchdowns despite starting for only two seasons
– Threw 46 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions at Virginia
– Participated at 2018 Senior Bowl
– Undrafted free agent signed by the Atlanta Falcons
– Spent entire rookie season (2018) on Falcons’ practice squad
– Suffered season-ending injury to start second season (2019) and spent entire year on injured reserve
– Started third season (2020) on Falcons practice squad but was elevated to the active roster for Week 11
– Released by Falcons on Feb. 11
Chad Kelly
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 224
College: Ole Miss
– Nephew of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly
– Drafted by Broncos with the final pick (No. 253) in the 2017 draft
– Top high school recruit. Spent two years at Clemson before being removed from the program due to conduct detrimental to the team
– Transferred to East Mississippi Community College, threw 47 touchdown passes and led the program to a national title
– Transferred to Ole Miss. Two-year starter, two-time All-SEC pick. Threw 50 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions
– Sugar Bowl MVP after throwing four touchdown passes vs. Oklahoma State
– Threw touchdown passes in 22 straight games, a school record
– Set 25 school passing records, including most 300-yard passing games (12)
– Invited to 2017 Senior Bowl
– Spent two seasons with Broncos, appearing in one game. Was the No. 2 quarterback in Denver for a brief period in 2018. Released by team after an arrest later that year
– Suspended for the first two games of the 2019 season. Spent most of the season on the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts
– Was on the Colts practice squad for the first month of the 2020 season before being released