The Packers will start Malik Willis at quarterback in place of Jordan Love “if Jordan’s not cleared,” coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. Love suffered a sprained MCL on the third-to-last play of Friday’s season opener against the Eagles, league sources told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. LaFleur said Love is not going on injured reserve, meaning the Packers think he’ll return in fewer than four games.
After LaFleur used the word “if,” he was asked about the possibility of Love getting cleared for Sunday’s game against the Colts at Lambeau Field.
“I couldn’t give you a percentage, but if he gets cleared, we’ll give him every opportunity like we always will,” LaFleur said. “I know he’s doing everything in his power. I know he’s spending a lot of time trying to get back as soon as possible. But certainly we’re not going to put him in a position where if he can’t protect himself that he’d go out there.”
The Colts would be silly to prepare at all for Love to play, as LaFleur’s tactic is likely just gamesmanship. Willis will start his fourth career game since the Titans drafted him in the third round in 2022. The Packers traded a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft for Willis in late August.
“I think he’s put a lot of time and effort into this thing,” LaFleur said of Willis, who had enough of a grasp on the offense after just a week and a half in Green Bay to be Love’s backup in Week 1. “He’s grinded. He’s learned the terminology and is able to spit out the play calls and we’ve got confidence in him. I think if he’s given a full week of preparation, a full week of practice, I’ve got confidence he’ll go out there and perform at a high level.”
Over two seasons with the Titans, Willis completed 35 of 66 passes for 350 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while running 32 times for 144 yards and a touchdown.
What will Green Bay ask of Willis?
The Packers don’t need Willis to carry the team on his back. He just can’t be the main reason they lose games. There’s a reason the Titans were so willing to deal Willis, but there’s also a reason the Packers traded for him as a developmental backup. General manager Brian Gutekunst said in late August after the trade that Willis improved this summer playing from the pocket in Tennessee and can make plays through the air or on the ground. He hasn’t done it nearly consistently enough in his first two seasons in the NFL, but he’ll need to conjure some magic to keep the Packers’ season afloat, even if that means helping to win just one of the next three games until Love returns.
(Photo: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
