Former Pitt QB Gets New NFL Life

The Packers have tapped Kedon Slovis for a strategic role on their practice squad, betting on his potential to strengthen their quarterback lineup despite a rollercoaster career path.

The Packers have settled on their third quarterback for 2026, and it’s the player who came up short against Kyle McCord in Friday’s preseason finale.

Green Bay plans to sign Kedon Slovis to the practice squad, Brian Gutekunst said during his Tuesday press conference. That would slot Slovis in as QB3 behind Jordan Love and Tyrod Taylor.

Slovis had a mixed showing against the Packers’ deep reserves last Friday. He threw for 223 yards and a touchdown, finishing 21 of 35 through the air, but he also turned it over twice.

Both interceptions came on short throws to backup edge rushers Nyjalik Kelly and Arron Mosby. Mosby’s pick ended up being a pivotal play, coming after the two-minute warning and helping set up McCord and the Packers offense for a go-ahead touchdown drive in a 42-38 win.

Across Arizona’s four preseason games, including the Hall of Fame Game, Slovis completed 39 of 61 passes for 434 yards, two touchdowns and those two interceptions. His 434 passing yards ranked third among all NFL passers in the preseason, trailing Baltimore’s Joe Fagnano at 509 and McCord at 446.

This will be another stop in a pro career that has already bounced around quite a bit. Slovis went undrafted in 2024, signed with the Colts as a free agent, and was released at final cuts after that preseason.

He spent his rookie year on the Texans’ practice squad, then joined the Cardinals’ practice squad after Houston let him go the following year. Arizona elevated him to the active roster in October because of an injury to Kyler Murray, and he appeared in two games, completing one of two passes for minus-2 yards.

His college path was just as restless. Slovis began at USC, where he started as a true freshman in 2019.

He was injured as a junior and later ended up in a battle with Jaxson Dart during the 2021 season. Both quarterbacks transferred after that year, with Dart heading to Ole Miss and Slovis moving to Pittsburgh.

Slovis started 11 games for Pitt in 2022 before transferring again for a fifth and final season at BYU in 2023.

There’s a reason the Packers see some intrigue here beyond just another arm on the practice squad. Slovis tested well at the 2024 Combine, running 4.55 in the 40-yard dash with a 1.57-second 10-yard split. Both marks rank above the 96th percentile for quarterbacks, according to RAS, which makes him a useful developmental option and a scout-team look for a defense that may need to prepare for athletic quarterbacks.

Unless something comes up on his physical, the move should become official when Tuesday’s transactions are filed this afternoon.

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