Green Bay Packers rookie quarterback Sean Clifford is fine after exiting Saturday’s preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks with a right arm injury.
Coach Matt LaFleur said Clifford, the primary backup behind Jordan Love entering the season, would have stayed in the game had the Packers not wanted to get third-stringer Alex McGough in to open the fourth quarter.
“He’s fine,” LaFleur said. “What happened, we ran the quarterback sneak, I think he got hit on the elbow, just hit his funny bone. If it wouldn’t have been the fourth quarter, he would have stayed in the game. We wanted to give Alex some time, he’s earned it.”
Clifford completed 8-of-12 passes for 46 yards and rushed four times for nine yards before exiting the game to start the fourth quarter. McGough played the final quarter and eventually led the Packers on a game-winning drive.
In the locker room following the Packers’ 19-15 win, Clifford said tests on his arm showed no injury and he’s good to go moving forward.
From Matt Schneidman of The Athletic:
Sean Clifford says he’s all good after leaving today’s game early with a right arm injury. Got banged up on his QB sneak. Everything checked out postgame. pic.twitter.com/y0wFYEaKVi
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 26, 2023
Clifford said his elbow and forearm started swelling a little after the hit. Ice was applied and imaging post-game revealed no damage.
The fifth-round pick out of Penn State will be the No. 2 quarterback in Green Bay to start the season. It’s unclear if the Packers will bring back McGough on the practice squad as the No. 3 quarterback or if an outside addition will be found.