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Green Bay Packers Cut QB Just Days After His NFL Debut
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- Green Bay Packers Cut QB Just Days After His NFL Debut
The Green Bay Packers entered their first preseason game with four quarterbacks on the roster, giving each of them snaps against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. As of Saturday afternoon, there are just three quarterbacks left on the Packers roster.
In a statement on Saturday, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced the team has released rookie quarterback Kyron Drones. There was no corresponding move to add any players to the roster.
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Drones, the former starting quarterback with the Virginia Tech Hokies , never heard his name called during the 2026 NFL Draft. After Round 7 concluded, the 6-foot-2 passer signed as an undrafted free agent with Green Bay and received a $5,000 signing bonus.
The 23-year-old received opportunities this summer to compete with Kyle McCord to be the team's No. 3 quarterback entering the 2026 NFL season. He was kept around through the start of Packers training camp and made his NFL debut on Thursday night versus Pittsburgh late in the fourth quarter.
It became pretty evident in Green Bay's preseason opener that Drones didn't have a future with the team. McCord played the majority of the game, completing 12-of-16 passes for 102 passing yards (6.4 yards per attempt) with a 91.1 passer rating. Meanwhile, Drones came in late and attempted just one pass while taking 3 sacks for 26 yards lost.
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Given there are two preseason games left and multiple weeks of practice, it's possible that Drones gets a shot with another NFL team. However, being released midway through Packers training camp and well ahead of the roster cutdown deadline (Aug. 30 at 6:00 PM ET) doesn't bode well for his long-term outlook in the NFL.
As for Green Bay, the expectation remains that only two quarterbacks will be on the 53-man roster to start the season. McCord, age 23, will have an opportunity to earn a spot on the Packers' practice squad and would be a candidate to be added to the 53-man roster if Jordan Love or Tyrod Taylor suffered an injury.
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With two preseason games left, it is reasonable to assume that another player will be added to the Packers roster ahead of their second preseason game on Friday against the Denver Broncos . Given the injuries along the offensive line, it is possible that is the position Gutekunst addresses with this roster spot.
