Every training camp, most teams have players brought in from tryouts who are more likely to be considered "camp bodies" than anything else. They're brought in to see what they have in the unlikely event that they end up making the roster, but they're also signed to take some of the training camp workload off the players who are roster locks. One of the most common positions to see these "camp bodies" is quarterback. No team wants its starting quarterback to wear out their arm before the season even starts. That's where the "camp arm" comes in. Those fourth, or even fifth, quarterbacks come in to throw to the receivers, tight ends, and running backs during training camp practices, and many of them are released after the first preseason game, if not earlier. 

This was originally thought to be the case with quarterback Taylor Elgersma, a Canadian college football player out of London, Ontario. Elgersma went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and was invited to the Green Bay Packers' rookie minicamp, where he impressed enough to be signed by the team. The Packers have their QB1 in Jordan Love, and their QB2 position locked in with Malik Willis. QB3 was likely to belong to Sean Clifford, a former 5th-round pick of the Packers entering his third season, but after a rough showing in 2024 for Clifford in preseason and training camp, where he would end up falling victim to final roster cuts only to return to the team on the practice squad, Clifford's spot was surely not a lock. 

But would a "camp arm" really challenge a third-year vet?

Sean Clifford knows the playbook inside and out. He was QB2 in 2023, right behind Jordan Love, and spent 2024 on the Packers' practice squad. As far as command of the offense goes, Clifford has the lead on Elgersma. Throughout training camp, Clifford has looked a bit more polished going through his progressions as well as more comfortable. It definitely seems as if the NFL game has finally slowed down for Sean Clifford, and he's able to make decisions quicker than before. Matt LaFleur has said that he wants to see consistency with the position. Clifford has shown some passing consistency in training camp practices, but in games so far, he hasn't exactly been throwing the ball a lot. 

In preseason game 1 vs the Jets, Clifford came into the game following Malik Willis and took the majority of the second half snaps at QB, but only went 2/4 for 14 yards. The one highlight he put together was when he ran downfield to block a defender, which sprung Amar Johnson's 39-yard touchdown run. In game 2 against the Colts, he only entered the game on the final drive, going 1/4 for 11 yards through the air; however, he ran the ball three times for 19 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown run, which ended up being the game-winner. 

Clifford has shown better control of the offense and improvement in practice, but his very minimal production in preseason games so far may work to his disadvantage pending a turnaround against Seattle this week. 

Elgersma is seizing the opportunity.

Taylor Elgersma had a slow start to training camp. But that is to be expected for a player coming from Canada who has yet to play football the "American way." Not to mention having to grasp a playbook while learning the differences. He had a few rough plays here and there in practice, but began to show a subtle improvement. Elgersma went 3/4 for 24 yards in his minimal action against the Jets in preseason week 1, but then bounced back to put up a fairly impressive 7/11 for 109 yards through the air and one carry for four yards on the ground after entering the game after Malik Willis in game 2 against the Colts. He looked caught off guard a bit by the Colts' defense in the first half, but was able to put together two scoring drives in the second half that caught everyone's attention.

What's missing from Elgersma's stat sheet are two throws, an interception, and a touchdown that were both negated by penalties. The interception was a poor decision put into a sea of defenders that I'm sure he's glad didn't count. The touchdown, however, was a very impressive fastball where Elgersma hit Ben Sims between two Colts defenders in the endzone. While both of those plays don't count on the stat sheet, coaches will still notice them in the film room, showing a bit of the talent possessed as well as what needs to be worked on. 

Elgersma shows a competitor's mentality displayed by his willingness to take a hit when scrambling rather than sliding. Which is admirable, but when playing QB in the NFL, coaches are going to want you to slide, not take the risk. A bit of a knock on Elgersma, which was shown in the game vs the Colts, though, was a lack of pocket presence. He needs that internal clock to tick just a little bit faster to get the ball out, and he also needs to go through his progressions a little cleaner and not stare down his receiver. 

Who gets it?

The Packers know what they have in Sean Clifford. He's a quarterback who can run the offense, and he's shown a bit of improvement since last year, but so far, not anything jaw-dropping. At 27 years old, Clifford may be at his ceiling. Elgersma, at 23 years old, is a raw talent, but he shows a lot of development possibilities, which the Packers often covet with their QB3 position. 

Jordan Love is QB1, Malik Willis is locked in to QB2, which, as said before, likely only leaves a practice squad QB position open for Clifford or Elgersma. What needs to be taken into account is what the team wants out of QB3. Sean Clifford or Taylor Elgersma likely aren't taking snaps in the regular season unless there are catastrophic injuries. And even at that point, one would think the Packers may look elsewhere for their starter if both Love and Willis aren't available. Barring the results of this final week of Training Camp and preseason, Taylor Elgersma may have the edge over Sean Clifford. Elgersma has the youth and raw talent that the Packers could be looking for in a practice squad prospect, which I just don't think they have in Sean Clifford. Clifford currently provides them with an insurance policy in the event of disaster rather than future upside.

Both Quarterbacks hold qualities the team may covet more than the other, which will make the next week interesting.