Malik Willis trade looks even worse for Packers after Matt LaFleur's latest comments

The Green Bay Packers solved their backup quarterback concerns in the most surprising way by trading for Malik Willis.

Many thought they would go for a more experienced quarterback to back up Jordan Love. Mike White and Tyler Huntley were among the veterans available after roster cuts, while Ryan Tannehill remains a free agent. Green Bay could've signed one of those quarterbacks without giving up draft capital.

Instead, the Packers rolled the dice by sending a seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Willis, who has zero touchdowns and three interceptions in his three career starts. As a former third-round pick, Willis has the potential to become a solid backup to Love, and the Packers believe they can get the best out of him.

However, did the move solve the Packers' backup quarterback problem in the short term? Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt failed to show enough at training camp, and they lack NFL experience.

Willis had a better training camp with the Titans, but he still couldn't beat Mason Rudolph for the backup job. Based on Matt LaFleur's latest comments, he may not have earned the Packers' No. 2 job just yet.

Matt LaFleur reveals Sean Clifford could be the Packers backup quarterback in Week 1

Willis only arrived in Green Bay last week and has to learn the playbook. It opens the door for Clifford to take back the QB2 job.

After all that, Clifford could be the backup quarterback in Week 1. He got cut, quoted Winston Churchill, and now could head to Brazil as Love's backup.

Willis needs time to learn the offense, so it won't be surprising if the Packers go with Clifford for Week 1, as he knows the playbook. But that's part of the problem of trading for a quarterback less than two weeks before the start of the regular season. When will Willis be ready for backup duties?

The time to solve the backup quarterback problem was in March and April, not late August.

And it's hardly guaranteed that Willis is the Packers' long-term answer at the backup spot. The Titans drafted him in the third round two years ago but traded him for a seventh-rounder. Willis has more upside than Clifford and Pratt, but he is unproven in the NFL. The Packers need a backup who can step in and help the team win if Love has to miss a few games.

Now, with a huge Week 1 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles only days away, the Packers may have to return to Clifford as their backup in the short term.

More Packers news and analysis