Brett Hundley, DeShone Kizer still vie to become Green Bay Packers’ backup quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers

Quarterbacks, from left, Brett Hundley ,DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle run onto Lambeau Field for the Packers’ Family Night practice in Green Bay, Wis., on Aug. 4. (AP photo)
GREEN BAY, Wis. — It’s quite possible that the extent of Aaron Rodgers’ playing time in preseason games will be limited to a touchdown drive that went five plays.
At this point in his illustrious career, the two-time NFL MVP doesn’t look as if he needs any more time. No need to expose Rodgers to a possible injury.
The guys competing to be his backup, though, could use all the snaps that they can get. It makes the Packers’ third preseason game on Friday night against the Oakland Raiders especially important for Brett Hundley and DeShone Kizer.
“This is kind of a unique situation when you know you’re not going to be QB1,” Kizer said. “But now it’s about determining what’s the difference between QB2 and QB3, and I think that in this situation it’s what you make it.”
In a best-case scenario for the Packers, whoever gets anointed the backup would not play a meaningful snap in the regular season since that would mean that Rodgers is healthy.
Green Bay went through the worst-case scenario last year.
The Packers stumbled to a 7-9 finish, finishing out of the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, in part because the passing game struggled while Rodgers was out with a broken collarbone.
Enter Kizer after the Packers acquired the 2017 second-round pick from the Cleveland Browns in the offseason in exchange for cornerback Damarious Randall.
A competition for the second-string quarterback job was born.
“I’ll just say this — they’re both making progress,” coach Mike McCarthy said before practice on Tuesday.
“I’m really pleased with the step that Brett’s made since last year and it’s very apparent in just his whole operation and production of the offense,” McCarthy said.
“DeShone comes from a whole different perspective as far as his starting point and he continues to get better. Very pleased with the progress of both of those quarterbacks.”