GREEN BAY — Matt Flynn is back.
The Green Bay Packers re-signed their former backup quarterback on Monday evening, according to an NFL source The team did not announce the move, but Packers coach Mike McCarthy did confirm earlier in the day that the team's No. 2 quarterback from 2008 through 2011 was indeed in for a workout.
"Matt Flynn is here," McCarthy said at his 3 p.m. press briefing. "(He) went through his workout this morning. (He) looks good. That's really all I have for you right now. Everything else is a work in progress."
That work led to Flynn, who left the Packers as an unrestricted free agent in March 2012, coming back to Green Bay, where he's expected to back up Scott Tolzien on Sunday against the New York Giants. Tolzien took over for veteran Seneca Wallace after one series of Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles after Wallace, who was starting for an injured Aaron Rodgers (fractured collarbone), suffered a groin injury on the opening possession.
The Packers are expected to place Wallace on injured reserve to make room for Flynn on the roster.
Flynn, 28, spent the 2012 season with the Seattle Seahawks, backing up rookie Russell Wilson after losing the starting quarterback competition to him in camp. He was then traded to the Oakland Raiders this spring, and wound up ceding the starting job to Terrelle Pryor and was cut Oct. 7. Flynn then spent a week with the Buffalo Bills, who started Jeff Tuel instead of him with their top two quarterbacks injured. The Bills cut him on Nov. 4 — and that night, Rodgers broke his clavicle against the Chicago Bears.
Asked how much the offense has changed since Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in the 2011 regular-season finale against Detroit, offensive coordinator Tom Clements replied Monday afternoon, "It's still the same the terminology and the same basic plays."
When Flynn was released by the Raiders, McCarthy made it clear that the Packers weren't interested. But desperate times change opinions, clearly.
"Personally, I'm very happy with the quarterback room, the way it looks, the people in it," McCarthy said then. "Obviously Matt was a Packer, (I am) very fond of Matt and his time here. As far as any roster moves and things like that, I really don't have any comment on (that). But I do like Seneca Wallace, I like what he's done since he's been here, I feel very good about our quarterback room."
Flynn started two games — a 2010 loss at New England, when Rodgers was sidelined with a concussion, and that 2011 finale. The Seahawks and Raiders paid Flynn a combined $14.5 million over the last two seasons.
"I definitely am surprised because when his (free-agent) opportunity came, I obviously gave him a very high recommendation," McCarthy replied last month when asked if he was surprised Flynn didn't find starting success. "Injuries and all the different types of things, quarterback competition in both places, a lot of factors go into it. I haven't watched the film of Matt so I really can't even give you an educated or informed opinion on how exactly he did play, but on a personal level I'm very fond of Matt Flynn. He was excellent in his time here and I wish him the best of luck."
Jason Wilde wrote: