Etling ‘Excited’ for Biggest Opportunity of Career

With quarterbacks reporting to Green Bay Packers training camp on Friday, Danny Etling is ready for the most important moment of his career.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jul 21, 2023 9:03 AM EDT

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – For Danny Etling, it was an offseason unlike any other that he hopes will lead into a season unlike any other.

A few days after the Green Bay Packers wrapped up their offseason practices, Etling got married. Then, it was off to Greece for their honeymoon.

“We’ll have to cut it a little short so I can come back and train,” Etling said with a wide smile during the June minicamp. “She knows what she’s getting into by marrying a quarterback. She knows.”

With Etling, Jordan Love and the rest of the quarterbacks reporting to Packers training camp on Friday in advance of the first practice on Wednesday, Etling has the opportunity of a lifetime within reach. With his sixth training camp on the horizon and as the 10th-oldest player on the 90-man roster, the 28-year-old has never played in a regular-season game.

That could change this year with Etling in position to be Love’s primary backup.

It’s an opportunity years in the making. A seventh-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2018, Etling caught coach Bill Belichick’s attention with an 86-yard touchdown run during the preseason. When Etling arrived at Patriots training camp in 2019, Belichick moved him to receiver. Not surprisingly, without the time to train for his new position and without any background in special teams, Etling failed to make the roster.

He’s bounced around since, including a practice-squad stint with the Packers in 2021. After that season, they brought him back on a futures deal. He played well enough last preseason with a stellar 123.3 passer rating and a 51-yard touchdown run to earn a season-long spot on the practice squad.

That set the stage for what’s to come when training camp starts next week.

“Obviously, you’re always excited about a new season and a new role or whatever that role might be,” Etling said. “I’m excited to maybe have an expanded role with the team. However that might take shape, that’s all out of my hands. I just want to go out there and execute well and continue to get better every day and bring these guys along.

“I want to help Jordan in whatever way I can, help Sean (Clifford) in whatever way I can – everybody. That’s the goal and that’s what I love about football. It’s such a team game.”

Almost 70 quarterbacks started at least one game last season, so, chances are, the Packers’ backup quarterback is going to play important snaps this season. Being a draft pick could give Clifford the advantage. Being experienced in the scheme and growing behind the scenes after going a sharp 17-of-22 last preseason could give Etling the advantage.

“It was mostly getting comfortable with the offense and getting more comfortable with how we take a season and whatever adjustments we want to make in-game and however we game-plan for a team or strategize,” Etling said of his in-season gains. “All those things were really nice to see first-hand. While football’s football, each team views games differently and each team attacks teams differently, so it was fun to learn that and see that all first-hand.”

Once back from his honeymoon, Etling turned his attention to getting ready for the season. He’s been working out with his former LSU teammate and current New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau, so he’ll be sharp and ready for his battle against Clifford (and new quarterback Sean McGough) to be Love’s top backup.

Interestingly, though, it’s not really a battle to Etling. Sure, he understands the reality. There will be a competition – not just against Clifford but against Green Bay’s ready list of veterans – and the best man will get the job. But all Etling can do is do the best he can as a quarterback, as a leader and as a teammate.

“I don’t think that I’ve ever viewed it like that,” Etling said of battling Clifford. “You’re always competing against everybody. You see it all the time. There’s 32 teams. You play well, sometimes teams steal guys or whatever it is. So, you’re going out there and you don’t focus on the end result like that. You focus on getting your job done and doing your job, and whatever happens, happens.

“You don’t worry so much about competing against another person. We’re all a unit in that room. We want to make sure that the quarterback position plays good. There’s so much that entails playing quarterback, so we try to all support each other. However it shakes out, it shakes out.”