Packers sign Callahan to practice squad

GREEN BAY – Joe Callahan is back in a Green Bay Packers uniform.

The rookie quarterback took a circuitous path, but he has returned to the place where he started his season. Callahan, undrafted out of Wesley College, signed to the Packers' practice squad after the Cleveland Browns dropped him from their 53-man roster Monday.

The Packers have not yet announced the roster move. They will need to release one player to clear space on their 10-man practice squad.

Callahan started his season as the third quarterback on the Packers’ 53-man roster this fall. He stayed with the Packers for five weeks, inactive each of their first four games, before being released to open up a roster spot for a defensive player.

The Packers intended to stash Callahan on their practice squad, but the New Orleans Saints instead added him to their 53-man roster. The Saints released him one week later, and he was then signed by the Browns.

Callahan started two games in the exhibition season because backup Brett Hundley was sidelined with a sprained ankle. He completed 54 of 88 passes (61.4 percent) for 499 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in four exhibitions.

“This is just clearly Joe Callahan earning the job,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after Callahan was added to the roster at the end of training camp. “I mean, how the hell does he not make the team? It was clear. Just watch the games, watch the video. I’m very, very happy for him personally because you always like to see a guy grab hold of an opportunity. I thought it was very obvious what he accomplished during the preseason.”

Ryan Wood of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin contributed.