Green Bay Packers workout two NFL veteran quarterbacks

Since quarterback Aaron Rodgers and backup Kurt Benkert are in the COVID-19 protocol, the Green Bay Packers worked out two new quarterbacks today, according to Field Yates of ESPN.

They worked out Clayton Thorson from Northwestern and former Purdue/LSU quarterback Danny Etling.

Danny Etling

Etling has bounced around from team to team throughout his NFL career: the New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings. He was initially drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but was soon traded to the Patriots.

LSU/Purdue

Etling threw for 4,586 passing yards and 27 touchdown passes, while tossing seven interceptions in his two seasons with the LSU Tigers. While he was with Purdue for two seasons, he completed 55.5% of his passing attempts for 2,490 yards, while tossing in 16 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

More on Thorson

Thorson was initially selected in the 2019 NFL Draft in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s yet to take a single snap in the regular season as a quarterback in the NFL. Earlier this season, in August, Thorson was waived by the New York Giants. He suffered a concussion and rather than remain on the Giants injured reserve for the remainder of the 2021 season, he agreed to an injury settlement with the team.

In the preseason for the Giants, Thorson completed 5 of his 16 pass attempts for 72 passing yards, while tossing a touchdown and no interceptions. He was sacked four times.

Before he spent time with the Giants, Thorson also spent time on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad back in 2019. He was initially drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, but waived at the end of training camp.

Thorson’s father, Chad, signed as an undrafted free agent linebacker with the New York Giants back in 1990.

Clayton Thorson at Northwestern

While at Northwestern, Thorson took over for Trevor Simien. As a redshirt freshman in 2015, he completed 150 of his 295 pass attempts for 1,522 passing yards, while tossing seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. As a runner, he ran for 397 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

In 2016, he had his best season for the Wildcats, completing 58.6% of his passes for 3,182 passing yards, while tossing 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. For his entire Northwestern career, Thorson completed 58.4% of his passes for 10,731 passing yards, while tossing 61 touchdowns and 45 interceptions.

With the Packers’ options at quarterback are looking rather bleak, they’ll likely be leaning on star running back Aaron Jones much more.