Jordan Love injured his right knee on the final play of the Green Bay Packers‘ Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, forcing him to miss the club’s Week 2 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Will Love suit up and face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday? Or will Green Bay lean on backup quarterback Malik Willis for the second consecutive week?
Here’s the latest on Love’s injury, including his official status for Week 3.
Will Jordan Love or Malik Willis Start in Week 3?
Love’s sprained MCL cost him Week 2, but the Packers’ starter appears closer to playing this Sunday. He was a limited participant in all three of Green Bay’s practices this week and was considered questionable for Week 3.
However, in the early hours of Sunday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Love would ultimately miss Week 3 giving backup Malik Willis another shot at starting. Rapoport mentioned that Love needed one more week of healing and could return in Week 4 for the team’s divisional showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.
The #Packers plan to start QB Malik Willis against the #Titans, with Jordan Love likely needing one more week of healing from his MCL sprain, per me and @TomPelissero.
Love, who hasn’t been ruled out, was back at practice this week, and could return vs. the #Vikings. pic.twitter.com/0nXyUorFEb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 22, 2024
Even though he is technically out, his designation this week was a significant improvement over last week, when Love was listed as doubtful after a DNP at every practice.
“I think there’s definitely a lot that’s up to (Love),” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday when asked about whether or not Love would play.
“You don’t want somebody in that position, but certainly, he’s doing everything in his power. He wants to be out there more than anybody. We’ll work through it. We’ll give it up to game-time, and we’ll see where we’re at.”
Without Love in Week 2, LaFleur had to go deep into his bag to craft a game plan for QB2 Malik Willis. The Packers posted 53 rushing attempts, the second-most by any NFL team in a single game since 2018. But Willis also made the most of his 14 pass attempts, completing 12 of them at 8.7 yards per clip while taking zero sacks in Green Bay’s 16-10 win.
Compared to Willis’ previous NFL starts for the Titans, Sunday’s performance was nearly unrecognizable. Willis looked completely overwhelmed during his time in Tennessee. Sunday’s win is evidence that LaFleur is an excellent offensive schemer and that Green Bay doesn’t have to rush Love back.
Willis was asked this week about the possibility of a revenge game against his old team, and he gave a great response.
“I could care less, bro. I think I got paid the whole time I was there,” Willis said via The Athletic insider Matt Schneidman. “I’m more than blessed for the opportunity they’ve given me. They brought me into this league, whether those guys are there or not. That organization, they took a shot on me. Miss Amy, they (did) great job by me, for all I’m concerned.”
Love completed 17 of 34 attempts for 260 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the Packers’ season-opening defeat to the Eagles. He injured his right knee on the final player of that loss but avoided a long-term issue.
Love is the face and the future of the Packers. In July, he signed a four-year, $220 million contract extension that made him — at the time — the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history.
It’s hard to believe that LaFleur or general manager Brian Gutekunst will allow Love to return to action until he’s completely healthy.