Jordan Love may have avoided a serious injury during yesterday’s win over the Jaguars, but the Packers QB isn’t in the clear for Week 9. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero passes along that Love likely “avoided a long-term injury” in yesterday’s contest. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky notes that today’s tests didn’t show any significant damage, and Love has officially been diagnosed with a strain.
Love tweaked his groin and was seen hobbling throughout the first half of yesterday’s contest. He eventually left the game, with backup Malik Willis playing the majority of the second half. An MCL sprain forced the starter to miss both Week 2 and Week 3, but despite the growing list of ailments, the Packers aren’t intending to slowly nurse Love back to full health.
“Yeah, if he can go, he’ll go,” coach Matt LaFleur said of Love’s status for this weekend (via Demovsky). “So, we’ll see where he’s at by the end of the week. But if we feel like he can’t protect himself, then we certainly wouldn’t put him in that position.”
As LaFleur noted, the Packers will take the week to evaluate Love’s progress before making a final call on their QB situation for Sunday’s showdown with the Lions. If Love is forced to miss the game, Demovsky writes that it would likely only be a one-game absence for the quarterback.
After finally being elevated to the QB1 role in 2023, Love had a breakout campaign, tossing 32 touchdowns before helping guide his squad to the Divisional Round. The QB inked a four-year, $220MM extension this offseason, and Love has started the 2024 campaign with a 4-2 record and a league-leading 7.5 percent passing TD %. Despite missing two-plus games, Love has also tossed a league-leading nine interceptions.
The Packers were extremely reckless in putting Love back on the field after it was clear he ‘tweaked’ his previous knee injury early in this game. This single game wasn’t worth risking his availability for the remainder of the season…
I’m inclined to think that way about playing him this week-at all. Use the extra time to heal, and work on decision making. 3 or 4 of his INT’s were flat out dumb decisions.
I’d give my left nut to avoid a groin injury…oh wait!
Being beat to hell (Love, Alexander, Williams, Jacobs, Walker) going into the home Lions game is not ideal…
Call me a pessimist, but I don’t think it’d matter much. The only thing Alexander has done consistently a year is run his mouth. Hasn’t backed it up much IMO.
He’s been very good since week 1
Love will play, he knows the team is responding well with Willis.