The preseason is that magical time of year when football season starts to ramp up. Rookies looking to prove their worth, veterans looking to make themselves known, and some trying to establish themselves in a new location. For the Packers, one name made a splash in a big way in their 20-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints. That player is third-string quarterback Danny Etling.
Late in the game, Etling made the decision to keep the ball on a zone-read play, dashing 51 yards to a Lambeau Leap. At the time, Aaron Rodgers was being interviewed and had nothing but good things to say about the third-stringer.
“Just his work ethic, his approach. He’s always got his iPad on him; he’s got a couple young receivers with him and a couple young linemen working on snap counts and plays and cadences. He’s a gym rat (like Tolzien was), and that’s what you need in those (No. 3 quarterback) positions. He’s a guy who has a chance to make the team.”
While he may not be gunning for the starting job, I feel that it is important to know where he came from, and who he is as a player and a person.
Danny Etling: The College Years
2013-2014: Purdue
In 2013, Etling made his college debut with the Purdue Boilermakers. Though that season was filled with lows that come with eleven losses, Danny Etling was a bright spot for the Boilermakers. In eight games, he passed for 1,690 yards and ten touchdowns on 149 completions. That would be good for roughly 211 yards per game, and 6.3 yards per attempt.
In 2014, Etling only started 5 games, in which he threw for 800 yards and six touchdowns on 89 completions. However, the Boilermakers did improve on their previous year’s record, finishing the 2014 campaign 3-9.
2015-2017
In 2015, Etling transferred to Louisiana State University. Due to NCAA rules, he had to sit out the 2015 season.
By the time the 2016 season came to a close, it was clear Etling had been putting in work. Starting 11 games for the Tigers, he passed for 2,123 yards and 11 touchdowns on 160 completions. That translates to 193 yards per game and 7.9 yards per attempt. Etling would lead LSU to an 8-4 record, capping the season off with a Citrus Bowl victory over a Lamar Jackson-led Louisville.
In his final season, Danny Etling made 2017 his best collegiate season ever. Starting all 13 games, he led LSU to a 9-4 record, passing for 2,463 yards and 16 touchdowns along the way, averaging 189 yards per game and 9.8 yards per attempt. The Tigers would return to the Citrus Bowl but would be defeated by Notre Dame.
Danny Etling: NFL Career
With the 219th pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected Danny Etling. Since then, he has traveled the league.
- New England Patriots (2018-2019)
- Atlanta Falcons (2019-2020)
- Seattle Seahawks (2020)
- Minnesota Vikings (2021)
- Seattle Seahawks (2021)
- Denver Broncos (2021)
- Green Bay Packers (2021)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2021)
- Green Bay (2022)
For much of this time, Etling has been a practice squad quarterback. I know that he by far is not the biggest name out there, but when a guy like him has a moment like he did, I feel like it is definitely worth highlighting.
The preseason can be just as it can be exciting. With roster cuts coming, it is possible Danny Etling won’t be on the roster by the time the regular season kicks off. Regardless, it is fun to see those guys get moments of glory because they do so much behind the scenes that we fans don’t see.
Whatever happens, when the final roster is released, Danny Etling has a fan in me for life.
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