What We Know About the Packers’ Quarterback

Will Jordan Love play in the Green Bay Packers’ Week 2 game against the Indianapolis Colts?

It didn’t even seem that way after Love was found lying on the court at Arena Corinthians, needing help getting to the sideline and into the locker room following the team’s 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener last Friday night in São Paulo, Brazil.

A season-ending torn ACL was quickly ruled out, bringing relief to the team and fans alike, but immediate reports of Love’s sprained MCL had him sidelined for several weeks, reportedly in the range of 3-6 weeks. However, the Packers are more confident in Love’s prognosis and that he could return to action sooner than initial reports.

Head coach Matt LaFleur is likely keeping the opponent in the dark, but he did say on Wednesday that Love will not be allowed to play on Sunday.

What’s the latest on Love’s injury? Here’s what we know.

How serious is Jordan Love’s injury?

Love suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee after being tackled by two members of the Philadelphia Eagles defense while attempting to keep a play alive on first down at the Eagles’ 47-yard line.

Coaches helped him off the field as his teammates surrounded him.

The Packers have been mostly quiet about the severity of Love’s sprain, but have not placed him on the injured list. If they had, he would have been out for at least four games.

Dr. Mark Wichman, an orthopedic and sports medicine specialist at Aurora Health Care who has no direct knowledge of Love’s case, told the Journal Sentinel that he expects a quarterback with such an injury to be out for a few weeks.

See when Jordan Love got injured

Does Jordan Love have a torn MCL?

Yes, but it is unclear to what extent. There are three types of degrees, or levels of an MCL injury.

Given the team’s decision not to place Love on IR, it appears Love’s tear is not the most serious.

An MCL sprain occurs when the ligament is stretched or torn. Grade I involves stretching of the MCL or a slight tear. Grade II is a partial tear, and Grade III is a complete tear.

Former Packers running back Aaron Jones missed three games and nearly a month last year with the same injury. It was Jones’ fourth career MCL injury. He missed at least one game each time.

How many games will Jordan Love miss?

It is unknown how long the love will last.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero first reported Saturday that Love’s original return timetable was in the three-to-six week range. PackersNews reported that Love was expected to miss “a couple” weeks.

But as the week progressed, LaFleur seemed more optimistic, despite Love missing practice on Wednesday.

“I would say it’s pretty open,” LaFleur said Wednesday when asked if there’s a chance Love could play Sunday. “He’s doing well. He’s spending a lot of time in the training room. … But he’s got to be cleared. We’ve got to feel like he can protect himself, and he’s got to be confident enough to do that.”

LaFleur added that Love does not need to practice this week in order to return to play.

Who is the Packers’ backup quarterback?

Malik Willis will replace Love while he is out.

Willis was acquired by the Packers in a trade with the Tennessee Titans at the end of training camp in late August. He entered Friday’s game for the final two snaps. His first pass was incomplete and he was sacked on the final play of the game.

“If Jordan doesn’t get cleared, we’ll start Malik and Sean will be the backup,” LaFleur said Tuesday, referring to Willis and Sean Clifford, who would be pulled from the practice squad in this likely scenario.

Willis, 25, was selected in the third round of the 2022 draft out of Liberty. Willis has played in eight games, including three starts as a rookie with the Titans, and served exclusively as a reserve in 2023.

Green Bay Packers Schedule 2024

Can the Packers (0-1) stay afloat if Love is sidelined for an extended period?

Below is their schedule for the next six weeks.

Week 2 – Sunday September 15 vs Indianapolis Colts, afternoon
Week 3 – Sunday September 22 at Tennessee Titans, afternoon
Week 4 – Sunday September 29 vs Minnesota Vikings, afternoon
Week 5 – Sunday, October 6 at Los Angeles Rams, 3:25 PM
Week 6 – Sunday October 13 vs Arizona Cardinals, afternoon
Week 7 – Sunday October 20 vs Houston Texans, afternoon