Green Bay Packers: 4 Early takeaways from training camp
3. DeShone Kizer looking solid as backup option
In March 2018, the Packers made a move to try and improve their backup quarterback situation. Green Bay sent Damarious Randall to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for quarterback DeShone Kizer. The teams also swapped fourth- and fifth-round picks in the 2018 draft, giving Green Bay higher selections in both rounds. But really, the move was about getting Kizer in the mix for the Packers.
Kizer’s first year in Cleveland and in the league went about as poorly as imaginable. The 52nd overall pick from the 2017 draft completed only 53.6 percent of his passes ad threw 22 interceptions to just 11 touchdowns on the year while the Browns went 0-15 with him as the starter. He wasn’t much better in spot duty for Green Bay last year either, going 20-of-42 for 187 yards, no touchdowns and two picks in three appearances.
Having said that, last year was what Kizer should’ve been doing all along. He fell to the second round in 2017 not due to talent but due to the fact that he needs to develop and mature. And if early training camp reports are to be believed, that’s what he’s doing entering his third professional season.
#Packers offense as a whole, and backup QB DeShone Kizer especially, is having its best day of camp. Kizer hit Jake Kumerow in the numbers on a slant pass for another TD in red zone.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 27, 2019
Kizer has been making big throws on each day of camp and has truly been a bright spot for the offense outside of the expected names like Rodgers.
Given Rodgers’ bouts with injuries over the past couple years, having a viable and competent backup in Green Bay is of paramount importance. If Kizer continues on the trajectory that he’s setting for himself at the start of training camp, he’s looking like a player who could be the right guy for that job.