As questions around the health of their starting quarterback continue to bubble up before the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers are adding some depth to the position to secure their roster.
It’s been nearly three weeks since Packers signal caller Jordan Love has taken the field after being knocked out of a game against the rival Chicago Bears.
Now, ahead of a third game against Chicago, Green Bay is adding quarterback Desmond Ridder to the roster.
In the same move, the team released third-string quarterback Clayton Tune.
Ridder’s addition comes as backup passer Malik Willis has struggled with injuries to his right shoulder and his hamstring.
Willis was limited in practice on Wednesday, casting doubt on his ability to be healthy for Saturday night’s NFC Wild Card game.
The Green Bay Packers are signing quarterback Desmond Ridder off their practice squad
This comes weeks after Jordan Love suffered an injury against the Bears. He’s expected to be healthy enough to play this weekend against Chicago in the NFC Wild Card round.
Ridder is a four-year veteran of the NFL having previously been drafted by the Atlanta Falcons.
He was a star at the University of Cincinnati, leading the team to a College Football Playoff appearance and becoming the only ‘Group of 5’ school to reach the playoff in the four-team era.
Atlanta selected him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 74th overall pick in the hopes he may replace franchise legend Matt Ryan.
Ridder lost the starting job his rookie season to Marcus Mariota, but started four games in the 2022 campaign.
He was named the full-time starter for the 2023 season, only to lose his role in Week 8 in favor of Taylor Heinicke. Ridder earned the job back after Heinicke struggled in two starts.
But by the season’s end, the Falcons had no use for him. Ridder was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for receiver Rondale Moore the day after Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins.
Since then, he bounced around from the Cardinals to the Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings before now landing in Green Bay.
