Packers release quarterback Joe Callahan after two seasons in Green Bay

Since the end of the 2018 NFL Draft on Saturday evening, the Green Bay Packers had reportedly come to terms with 15 undrafted players on free agent contracts. However, there was a problem with that number: the team only had 14 open roster spots.

With 65 players remaining under contract from 2017 and 11 players drafted between Thursday and Saturday, there was room for just 14 UDFAs on the 90-man roster. However, Monday brought news of how the team is opening up that extra roster spot.

This afternoon, the Packers announced the release of quarterback Joe Callahan.

Callahan was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Division III Wesley College following the 2016 draft. That fall, he played most of the snaps during the preseason at quarterback due to Aaron Rodgers sitting out and Brett Hundley nursing an injury. He made the opening-week 53-man roster as a rookie, but was waived and claimed by the New Orleans Saints a few weeks later. After stops in the Bayou and in Cleveland, Callahan returned to the Packers’ practice squad late that season.

In 2017, Callahan fought with Taysom Hill for the #3 job, again behind Rodgers and Hundley, seemingly losing that battle. However, both he and Hill were released at the end of camp, and this time it was Hill who landed with the Saints on waivers. Callahan returned to the Packers’ practice squad once again before being elevated to the active roster as Hundley’s backup when Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone.

Following the Packers’ trade for DeShone Kizer this offseason, Callahan received a league-minimum salary on an exclusive-rights free agent tender as the team’s fourth quarterback. However, the team’s impending agreement with undrafted rookie Tim Boyle from Eastern Kentucky made Callahan expendable.

Callahan leaves Green Bay having appeared in just one NFL game, the 2017 season finale against the Detroit Lions. He completed five of his seven passes for 11 yards.