GREEN BAY — Sean Clifford has been through two of these before, so he knows better than to assume anything.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback came into the NFL as a fifth-round pick in 2023 and didn’t have to sweat the final roster reduction that year, having put himself in position to serve as starter Jordan Love’s primary backup that year after beating out Alex McGough in camp.

Last summer, Clifford was locked in a camp-long battle with rookie seventh-round pick Michael Pratt, and the Packers ultimately decided not to keep either one on their 53-man roster, with general manager Brian Gutekunst trading a seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Malik Willis.

While Pratt signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad, Clifford joined the Packers’ practice squad.

Willis, of course, saved the Packers’ season, leading them to a pair of victories — despite his after-camp-was-over arrival — after Love suffered a knee injury in the waning moments of the team’s season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil.

Had the Packers lost to the Indianapolis Colts and the Titans in Willis’ two starts, they would have finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs.

Which is why Willis is entrenched as Love’s primary backup heading into this season, leaving Clifford and Canadian import Taylor Elgersma to vie for the No. 3 spot — which, presumably, will mean both Clifford and Elgersma will be waived and then, assuming both go unclaimed, the Packers will re-sign one of them to the practice squad.

All of which leaves Clifford, who had limited opportunities during the team’s three preseason games, in a difficult spot as the Packers — and the other 31 NFL teams—must trim their rosters to the league-mandated 53-player limit by 3 p.m. Wisconsin time on Tuesday.

“You want to be able to put some great stuff on tape. I thought there were some opportunities that we weren’t able to convert on,” Clifford said after playing 21 of his 48 preseason snaps in Saturday’s win over the Seattle Seahawks.

“I think that I’m a really good quarterback. I’m really proud of the work that I put in with Green Bay so far. I’m very positive and I’m very confident about my abilities. So, we’ll see what happens.”

The Packers must make 37 roster moves to get down to the league limit, but not all those moves will be cuts.

Wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) and rookie edge rusher Collin Oliver (hamstring) are headed to the in-season physically unable to perform list after not practicing at all during training camp. Having not passed their physicals, they are eligible for the PUP list and will miss at least the first four games of the season.

The Packers also figure to use their two allotted injured reserve/designated to return slots at the cutdown, with one expected to go to running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring).

But that still leaves a bunch of decisions to be made.

“You just don’t know how teams view you or what teams see in you or how they value you,” veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman said. “So, whether it’s here or somewhere else, you never know what can happen. But I did what I can do, and now it’s up to everybody else.”

Added offensive lineman Donovan Jennings, when asked what it would mean to him to make the 53-man roster: “It would mean a lot — to me personally, my family, all the hard work and dedication I’ve put in. That’s all I’ve wanted this whole time was to make this team and contribute in any way that I can.”

Of course, with the team already having swung one trade — acquiring tackle/guard Darian Kinnard from the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2027 sixth-round draft pick — and some other positions where they’re thin, more trades could be in the offing, as could post-cut waiver claims.

That means some players could initially make the roster on Tuesday and then lose their spot a day later.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with Gutey, and for the most part you’ve got a pretty good idea of where it’s going,” head coach Matt LaFleur said of the impending roster moves. “But certainly there’s going to be other teams where guys get released and there’s going to be opportunities there that potentially could impact some of the decisions you make, in terms of who you keep from your roster.”

Teams can establish their 16-player practice squad — with a bonus additional 17th spot reserved for International Player Pathway program players like rookie kicker Mark McNamee, from Ireland — after players clear waivers, and the Packers have traditionally used most of those spots on bringing back their own guys.

With the league having loosened practice-squad restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic to allow players to be promoted to the active roster on game days and then revert back to the practice squad without being subject to the waiver wire, those practice-squadders are essentially an extension of the roster, giving NFL teams 70-player rosters, at least functionally.

Which might be where Clifford lands — if anywhere.

“I think it’d be great,” Clifford said of earning another year in Green Bay. “I think this is a Super Bowl-caliber team, so I want to be a part of that. I’m going to give everything I’ve got and continue to support Jordan and Malik and be ready at all times.

“I want to win a Super Bowl. I think this is the team to do it, so I would love to be a part of it.”

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