GREEN BAY – Scott Tolzien is all things Ted Thompson loves.

Tolzien’s a smart, team-first player who knows his role, but how to work to expand it. After taking a redshirt season to open his career at the University of Wisconsin in 2006, he didn’t play in 2007, then worked his way not only into the lineup, but won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2010.

He was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.

The Badgers won games, but Tolzien had some stats that mattered, especially to Thompson. Tolzien completed 72.9 percent of his passes in 2010 and set Wisconsin’s all-time records in career completion percentage and pass efficiency.

The timing didn’t work, though.

At the time of the 2011 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers general manager had no need to draft a quarterback with any of his 10 selections that year, nor sign any in the group of 15 undrafted free agents inked to deals.

It made sense, of course. Coming off a Super Bowl victory in which Aaron Rodgers had just won the Most Valuable Player award, the team appeared set with Matt Flynn and Graham Harrell.

Tolzien went undrafted, played the 2011 preseason with San Diego, and was cut. The San Francisco 49ers scooped him up and had him sit behind Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick for two seasons.

The lifespan of a third string quarterback with any organization is short, and Tolzien was released by the 49ers on Aug. 26.

Thousands of miles away, Thompson was determining that that Harrell, Vince Young and B.J. Coleman couldn’t play.

The timing worked. Thompson signed Tolzien to the Packers practice squad on Sept. 1.

Little did either know that less than two months later (and just days after being signed to the active roster on Nov. 6) the 26-year-old quarterback would be preparing for his first start in the NFL on Sunday afternoon, on the road, against a New York Giants team that has won three straight games.

Little did either know that the game is floating just above "must win" territory.

Tolzien played better than anyone, including the Packers coaching staff, could have expected in the Packers’ 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Head coach Mike McCarthy admitted Tolzien was running plays he never practiced in a language he’s only been speaking for several months.

"For the most part, he was seamless in the huddle," McCarthy said. "I thought his game management, especially from the amount of preparation he had going into this game was outstanding."

Tolzien’s teammates agreed.

They noted his confidence in the huddle, and felt he was prepared enough to win the game despite the limitations he faced running onto the field in the first quarter – which didn’t include two new offensive linemen and another (T.J. Lang) who had to play out of position. Two interceptions depressed Tolzien’s quarterback rating (70.5) but he completed 61.5 percent of his passes, threw for 280 yards and a touchdown.

The one interception that hurt the most was in the Eagles end zone, a throw to Jordy Nelson that was behind him and picked off by Brandon Boykin.

After the game Tolzien noted where he should have placed the ball, and vowed to not make that mistake again.

"Bottom line is we’ve just got to keep getting better," he said. "I think it’s pretty simple and you start by looking at yourself in the mirror. Certainly there’s a few plays you’d like to have back in the game, but I really appreciate the guys’ help out there rallying around me and my coaches, as well as helping me prepare to be ready to go. I really appreciate these guys in this locker room and we’ve just got to keep getting better."

We have to get better.

Thompson is saying the same thing, bringing back Flynn after he flamed out in Seattle, Oakland and Buffalo to firm up that position group as a whole while Rodgers heals from his broken clavicle.

Tolzien will get better, though. The last NFL action he saw came in preseason games, and mostly against players who are no longer in the league. The speed is different on Sundays, and he learned it the hard way.

It’s unfortunate that it took a second injury at his position (this time to Seneca Wallace) for Tolzien to get his shot, but that’s the way the league works. He took advantage, and played well enough to earn a start this week. He gives the Packers the best chance to win not only against the Giants – but based on Flynn’s lack of performance the last two years – the best chance until Rodgers returns (if he does at all).

The question now is if the timing is right for Tolzien to make a name for himself as a professional quarterback. Some would say the odds are stacked against him, as he is bringing a depleted receiving corps and a banged up offensive line on the road.

Timing is, indeed, everything, in sports and in life. For Tolzien, a finite amount of it – 60 minutes – will tell us just that.