Tyrod Taylor looks like the kind of backup quarterback the Packers can live with - right up until the health issue becomes impossible to ignore.
Heading into training camp, Green Bay has plenty to like about Taylor’s fit behind Jordan Love. He’s experienced, steady and capable of stepping into the huddle without the offense falling apart. But the concern hanging over everything is the same one that has followed him for years: durability.
Taylor is turning 37 in August, and the wear and tear of a 16-year NFL career has only made the concern louder. He can handle backup duty in theory, but the Packers may be asking themselves whether he can actually hold up if Love misses extended time. The answer could determine whether Green Bay needs more protection at the game’s most important position.
Mike Luciano of The Jet Press laid out the appeal and the warning in blunt terms:
"Tyrod Taylor is straight out of backup quarterback central casting," Luciano stated. "You won't win any extra games because of his arm, but he can operate a professional offense, distribute the ball accurately, and make enough plays with his legs to give the offense a spark and prevail in a handful of contests.
However, he is a major injury risk, as he has been throughout his career. Age has taken his quick first step as a runner, limiting his playmaking with his legs to just scrambles instead of designed runs."
That concern isn’t theoretical. Luciano saw it up close during Taylor’s two seasons with the New York Jets, where the veteran missed multiple weeks in 2025 because of knee and groin issues.
Taylor had been viewed by many as a clean answer to replace Malik Willis, who is now starting for the Miami Dolphins. On paper, the fit made sense: both bring dual-threat ability, and the Packers didn’t have many obvious alternatives. At the time, moving to Taylor looked like the obvious choice.
But the longer Taylor’s injury history hangs around, the more it looks like Green Bay may need a better safety net. His mobility now functions more as a way to survive than as a true weapon defenses have to scheme around. He also fits better in an under-center system, while much of Willis’ success came from shotgun looks.
Last season with the Jets, Taylor appeared in six games and completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 779 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran 27 times for 143 yards and a score.
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