Canadian QB Taylor Elgersma opens up about Green Bay Packers release, NFL workout tour

Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma hopes for another NFL opportunity following his release by the Green Bay Packers after the team’s training camp in August.

“I learned a lot. I grew a lot as a player being able to learn from coaches Matt LaFleur, Adam Stenavich, from players Jordan Love, Malik Willis and Sean Clifford and compete with those guys. Being able to play in those environments, challenge myself, run out there in Lambeau and take my first NFL snaps was all great for my development as a player,” Elgersma told 3DownNation.

“There’s an element of pressure with playing in the NFL; you have to expect pressure. Every single rep you’re competing against the best in the world, you’re getting evaluated by every single rep, and you don’t have a lot of reps if you’re a UDFA guy like I was. It’s about being that leader of the huddle, no matter where the stage is. It was a unique opportunity, but one I hope to get again soon.”

The six-foot-five, 227-pound QB inked an undrafted free agent contract last May following a rookie mini-camp tryout, becoming the fourth Canadian university QB to sign with an NFL team and the first since 1987. He completed 16-of-23 passes for 166 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while playing in three NFL preseason games with Green Bay, recording a 104.6 QB rating.

Elgersma threw a touchdown pass during the Packers Family Night scrimmage on Saturday, August 2 and flashed despite limited reps in training camp. It seemed as though he was the favourite to earn the No. 3 backup job behind Love and Willis. Despite public praise from LaFleur, the coaching staff and personnel evaluators decided to release him after training camp and bring in Clayton Tune, who had been waived by the Arizona Cardinals.

“I’m proud of what I was able to put out there. I did a good job competing in that room, but I also know there’s a lot more that I can do in my game to continue to open up these doors and allow myself to stick. I did well enough to show that I deserved a chance in the NFL; that’s ultimately where my mindset is. I showed some of my raw talent, I showed my ability to process, my ability to understand an offence, get to the right checks and execute in-game in the preseason,” Elgersma said.

“I did a good job leading scoring drives when I was out there, but I also know that there’s a lot of room to grow in my game still. I’m not the one making the end decision, but all I can do is show up and be myself every day. I’m happy with what I showed in that first training camp, but I’m hopeful that there’s going to be more opportunities to continue to grow and someone will take another chance on me.”

Prior to leaving Green Bay, Elgersma took it upon himself to seek out LaFleur for a meeting. The 23-year-old, who is wise beyond his years, wanted to hear the reasons as to why he did not make the active roster or practice squad, and use constructive criticism to his advantage in the future. The 46-year-old head coach obliged and set aside time to speak.

“It was important for me, being a player from Canada and being a U Sports player, to go into that room and say, ‘Hey, I appreciate you guys taking the swing on me. I hope that you guys see the way I work at this game.’ I was able to have some pretty candid conversations with them about how I approach the game. I was very appreciative of the feedback I got from them,” Elgersma said.

Toronto Argonauts’ head coach Mike Miller helped Elgersma with his development when he spent two training camps with the Double Blue in 2022 and 2023 as part of the three-down league’s QB internship program. Miller spent 13 years coaching in the NFL, including two seasons (2011 through 2012) as Arizona’s offensive coordinator, and offered his perspective on the Packers’ decision.

“He got a legitimate shot in Green Bay. I thought he showed himself very well,” Miller said. “It looked to me as though he played himself into consideration for the number three. Look, there are a lot of moving parts when that decision comes down.” 

Two days following leaving the Packers, New York called and brought him in for a workout. There was positive feedback from the Giants, but no contract was offered at the time. More than three months passed before his next NFL trip. The San Francisco 49ers brought him in on December 1. Eight days later, the Chicago Bears took a live look in the Windy City. Later in December, the Miami Dolphins provided a quick round-trip visit to South Beach.

“Being able to continue to push forward with the opportunity to go work out in front of four NFL teams, get flown out there, be at their facilities and throw in front of their coaches has been a blessing. A lot of free agents don’t get that opportunity, and I’m very thankful for that. I’m excited to continue this process and excited for what opportunities happen next,” Elgersma said.

“Uncomfortable situations build you, and the more you do them, the easier they get, but it’s all about being adaptable. That’s what being thrown into a training camp is; that’s what these workouts are. A lot of times, being an undrafted guy in a pro league, you have to be comfortable to go out there and perform, no matter what they are asking of you. That’s exactly what they do at the workouts to see if you can do that.”

According to Elgersma, each team has their own process for how the workouts are run. The trips happen fast: a flight in the night before, up early the next morning and on the field. For a QB, you throw a set amount of routes to each side of the field. Someone from the scouting or coaching staff shakes his hand, tells him the team appreciated his time, gives him feedback and sends him on his way.

“It’s a test of your mental fortitude, and this is what this pro game is about, there’s going to be highs, there’s going to be lows,” Elgersma said about his NFL free agent experience. 

“The fact that he’s continuing to work out for other teams should give him continued hope. He should be encouraged he continues to get those workouts. He continues to work hard and train,” Miller said.

Elgersma gains confidence from watching his former Senior Bowl teammates and counterparts at quarterback earn success in the NFL.

Jaxson Dart was selected in the first round and flashed for the New York Giants. Tyler Shough is a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Dillon Gabriel started games for the Cleveland Browns. Riley Leonard saw limited playing time with the Indianapolis Colts, while Jalen Milroe was a backup with the Seattle Seahawks, and Will Howard spent the season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Seth Henigan had a stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars and signed a futures contract with the Colts.

“I competed right there alongside those guys. Being able to watch what they’ve done in their rookie years is super incredible. Tyler and Jaxson have had unbelievable rookie years. I was close with Dillon when he was down there,” Elgersma said. 

“I’m right there in that group of guys. It does give me confidence that I could compete there and that I could get another shot.”

Photo courtesy: Hailey Tripodi, Laurier Athletics.

It’s not as if Elgersma’s waiting around for his next NFL call to come. He helped coach his replacement, Callum Wither, in his first U Sports season with Wilfrid Laurier University. The Waterloo, Ont. native led the nation with 26 passing touchdowns compared to only four interceptions while completing 72.7 percent of his passes for 2,472 yards in eight regular-season games.

The strong-armed passer used the Golden Hawks’ facilities to work out, stay in shape and sharpen his quarterback skills between NFL workouts. The London, Ont. native does acknowledge he’s fighting a possible bias against Canadian quarterbacks, but not in the way one might imagine. He believes it’s a reality of his situation and takes the challenge head-on.

“I haven’t played the four-down game, and my resume is built on the Canadian game. It’s naive to think that wouldn’t be something that you have to work through as a Canadian. If I was an NFL GM and there was a player who hadn’t played my game, I would have some questions as well. I don’t think that it’s something I need to look at as poor me that I have to go through this, but more, this is an opportunity that I signed up for to go and prove these people wrong,” Elgersma said.

“Go showcase that even though I didn’t play the four-down game in college, that I can build an American football resume that stands alongside my Canadian football resume and that I can perform at this level. It’s about mindset and how you look at these things; that’s something I’m trying to frame in a positive way. I get the opportunity to go compete and change the narrative as opposed to looking at it as a negative.”

Elgersma has already made history and plans to make more, regardless what anyone else may think.