Packers To Sign QB Desmond Ridder; Latest On Jordan Love, Malik Willis
The Packers do not have anything at stake in Week 18. Green Bay is locked into the NFC’s seventh seed, but the team does need healthy options at the quarterback spot for at least one game. 
As a result, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Desmond Ridder is being signed. This is a practice squad agreement, he adds. When speaking to the media on Wednesday, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Ridder will be joining Green Bay for the time being.
A third-round pick of the Falcons in 2022, Ridder made four starts as a rookie and another 13 the following season. He was with the Raiders last year, making one start and six appearances. Since then, Ridder has been in the Bengals’ and Vikings’ organization but he has yet to see any regular season action in 2025. The 26-year-old could be used as a gameday elevation to dress this week depending on the status of Green Bay’s other passers.
Jordan Love has been out of the fold since suffering a concussion against the Bears in Week 16. He participated in practice before being ruled out for Green Bay’s loss this past Saturday. That paved the way for backup Malik Willis to get the nod, but late in the game he reinjured his throwing shoulder. Third-stringer Clayton Tune needed to enter the contest with Willis unavailable.
LaFleur said (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky) Love remains in concussion protocol at this time. He will once again be able to practice today, however. Progressing through the final stages of the protocol would allow for Love to suit up against the Vikings on Sunday. Willis, meanwhile, will be a limited practice participant.
Sitting at 9-6-1 on the year, Green Bay cannot secure top spot in the NFC North, nor can the team move up in the wild-card standings. That could provide ample reason for the Packers to sit several starters, although LaFleur noted it would be far from ideal for Love to enter the postseason coming off a lengthy spell out of game action. It remains to be seen if he will be available to play at least in a limited capacity on Sunday. Likewise, the status of Willis – a pending free agent who has impressed during his Green Bay opportunities – will be something to monitor over the coming days.
Packers Rule Out Jordan Love For Week 17
Rather than Lamar Jackson–Jordan Love, Saturday’s Ravens-Packers matchup is likely to feature two backup quarterbacks. Jackson is doubtful, and the Packers ruled out Love due to the concussion he sustained last week. 
Malik Willis will start for Green Bay, with Tyler Huntley on track to face the Packers in a do-or-die matchup for the Ravens. This is not a short week for the Packers, who played last Saturday in Chicago, but Love is still going through the concussion protocol steps. Thus, Willis will make his first start of the season.
A hit from Bears defender Austin Booker concussed Love, leading to Willis reemerging for duty. The former Titans draftee played well, all things considered, as he did during an early-season 2024 cameo. Willis started two games last season. Despite being discarded by a new Titans staff in summer 2024 after struggles developing in Tennessee, Willis has found a home in Green Bay. Free agency interest is expected to come the former third-rounder’s way soon. Saturday will be key for the Liberty alum on that end.
By losing yesterday, the Lions have been officially eliminated from postseason contention. That has guaranteed at least a wild-card spot for the Packers, although first place in the NFC North is still within reach at this point. Whether or not that remains the case beyond this weekend will depend on Green Bay’s ability to win tomorrow. Love will likely be expected to return for the regular season finale (at least, if it is still meaningful for seeding purposes) but Willis will get at least one December start.
Willis, 26, has made five regular season starts in the NFL. Huntley, meanwhile, has led the Ravens’ offense on 11 total occasions between the regular season and playoffs. He also logged five starts last season for the Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa sidelined. Huntley is a pending free agent, so his situation is similar to Willis’ in that regard.
A strong performance from either backup would go a long way in determining their market value. In any case, the Packers will hope Willis’ encouraging showings with his second career team can continue for another game and keep alive their chances of hosting a playoff game.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Malik Willis Expected To Draw FA Interest; Updates On Packers QB Injuries
Packers quarterback Malik Willis is expected to draw heavy free agent interest this offseason, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
The former Titans third-rounder did not show much in Tennessee, but he has found a grove in Green Bay over the last two years. Willis won both of his starts in 2024 and has generally played well when called upon. This year, he took a few snaps in Weeks 11 and 12 before an extended relief appearance last week after Jordan Love sustained a concussion. Willis completed eight of his 11 passes for 121 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions while adding 44 yards on the ground, though he could not lead a game-winning drive in overtime. The Packers offense has generally functioned smoothly with Willis under center.
That is why other teams will likely be interested this offseason. Willis himself may want a chance to compete for a starting job, which he will not get in Green Bay barring a significant injury to Love. A team looking for a quarterback could look to Willis as a bridge quarterback or reclamation project, perhaps to compete with a young passer for a starting job. Willis’ success in a McVay-style offense could be especially appealing to teams with similar offenses and/or a coach from McVay’s tree.
Unsurprisingly, the Packers would prefer to retain Willis as a high-end backup for exactly the situation that has come up this week. Love did not clear concussion protocol by the end of Green Bay’s practice week on Thursday, though he did progress though a few phases. He is also dealing with a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury and is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game. That positions Willis to start on Saturday against the Ravens, though he is dealing with a shoulder injury to his throwing arm as well as an illness. He is also listed as questionable, though he said earlier in the week (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman) that he expects to play.
NFC North Notes: Bears, Packers, Willis
Chicago (9-3) and Green Bay (8-3-1) will renew their storied rivalry on Sunday with first place in the NFC North on the line. The Bears snapped an 11-game losing streak at Lambeau Field last season. Another victory there in Week 14 would clinch the Bears’ first season of double-digit wins since 2018. The Packers lead the all-time series 108-96-6.
Here’s more on the two teams heading into Sunday’s meeting:
- Journeyman quarterback Case Keenum accepted the Bears’ one-year offer worth up to $3MM last March. It turns out that Keenum was ready to retire before he signed with the Bears, Dan Pompei of The Athletic writes in an interesting profile of the 37-year-old. Previously with the Texans, Keenum missed all of last season with a Lisfranc injury before joining the Bears, his eighth NFL team. While he hasn’t taken a regular-season snap since 2023, Keenum’s presence has benefited the Bears’ young quarterbacks. Keenum has formed a bond with starter Caleb Williams and No. 2 signal-caller Tyson Bagent, as Pompei’s piece details. Rookie head coach Ben Johnson also appreciates having Keenum aboard. “He’s another voice of reason for me, a guy that knows he’s not going to hurt my feelings and tell me how he sees it through a player’s lens, which I think is invaluable for me,” said Johnson, whose team is atop the conference. Keenum has considered going into coaching when his playing career ends, according to Pompei.
- Sticking with the Bears, Johnson is hopeful linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will return this year. “I think so, yeah,” Johnson recently said when asked if Edmunds would play again in 2025 (via Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network). A groin injury forced Edmunds to IR on Nov. 22. The two-time Pro Bowler has missed a pair of games since then, and he’ll sit out at least two more. In a best-case scenario, Edmunds will be back for a Week 16 rematch with Green Bay. While the Bears have gone 2-0 in Edmunds’ absence, he has been one of their most productive defenders this season. Edmunds has posted 89 tackles, four interceptions, and nine passes defensed in 10 games.
- Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis performed well in place of an injured Jordan Love last year, helping the team to wins in each of his two starts. Love has stayed healthy this season, which has limited Willis to three pass attempts (all completions). Considering Willis’ desire to compete for a starting job and a forthcoming pay raise in the offseason, his time with the Packers may be winding down, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel observes. Willis, who’s a few months from reaching free agency, could earn anywhere from $5MM to $8MM per year, three NFC personnel officials told Silverstein. That may prove too pricey for Green Bay, which could lead the 26-year-old Willis to his third NFL team. He entered the league as a 2022 third-round pick of the Titans, who traded him to the Packers for a 2025 seventh-rounder before last season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/11/25
Saturday’s minor transactions and more standard gameday practice squad elevations for the wild-card round of the playoffs:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: WR Keith Kirkwood, WR Anthony Miller
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: S Kareem Jackson, WR Jalen Virgil
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: RB Tyler Badie
- Elevated: G Nick Gargiulo
- Placed on reserve/NFI list: T Frank Crum
Green Bay Packers
- Signed to active roster: QB Sean Clifford
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: FB Khari Blasingame, WR Parris Campbell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from IR: T Calvin Anderson
- Elevated: WR Jamal Agnew, WR Scotty Miller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: LB Deion Jones, WR Tanner Knue
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: WR Chris Moore, CB Kevon Seymour
As a member of the practice squad this year, Clifford, the second-year passer out of Penn State, was elevated twice. As a member of the active roster, he will be able to serve as Green Bay’s emergency third quarterback, which could be beneficial after starter Jordan Love was knocked out of the team’s Week 18 loss with an elbow injury on his throwing arm, and his backup, Malik Willis, was dealing with a thumb injury on his throwing hand. Both players had two full practices this week and carry no injury designation, but the team will be taking no chances.
Packers Get QB Jordan Love Back In Week 4
Many feared the Packers’ season was over before it even got a chance to take off when highly-paid quarterback Jordan Love went down with an apparent leg injury during the final drive of the team’s season opener in Brazil. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, though, in Week 4, Love will attempt to make a return to the field much earlier than expected in an effort to keep his team in the NFC North race. 
That goal is made much easier by the fact that backup quarterback Malik Willis has led Green Bay to two straight wins following the season-opening loss. Willis hasn’t been a world-beater as a stand-in passer for the past two weeks, but he’s been an effective enough replacement to secure two wins for his squad.
Willis has been so effective, in fact, that there has been speculation that both Love and Willis could get playing time this week with Love active. This could be an idea that results from slow-playing Love in his return to the field. If they aren’t 100 percent confident that their new franchise passer is ready to return in a safe and healthy way, they likely won’t hesitate to put Willis back in under center.
When Love suffered his injury, there were predictions that he would miss anywhere from three to six weeks, and should he make his return this week, he would beat even the most liberal estimates after only a two-game absence. Two weeks ago, it was reported that Love was aiming for a Week 5 return, and there was even some hope that he might appear last week, but it looks like this weekend will be the time for his comeback.
Packers’ Jordan Love Inactive For Week 3
SEPTEMBER 22: Although the Packers have not yet announced Love’s status, the second-year starter is once again expected to be sidelined, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero note. Considering Week 5 had surfaced as an early Love return window, it is not exactly surprising Green Bay will continue to exercise caution despite its starter’s return to practice. Thus, Willis’ Tennessee return will take on far greater significance. Love has since been declared inactive.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2:15pm: Love practiced on a limited basis once again on Thursday. Head coach Matt LaFleur said the team is prepared to wait until 90 minutes before kickoff on Sunday (when inactives are announced) before making a final call, indicating the extent to which Love is a candidate to return in Week 3. His status could still easily change in the coming days, of course, depending on his recovery progress.
9:44am: While Malik Willis won in his Packers debut, Jordan Love‘s ability to return to the lineup remains a key talking point for the team. Green Bay’s starter returned to practice on Wednesday, and he now has at least an outside chance of suiting up in Week 3.
“I’m hopeful that I’ll get to that point where I can get in there,” Love said, via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman (subscription required). The second-year starter practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, and day-to-day evaluations will take place during the immediate future to determine his status. A cautious approach on the team’s part would come as no surprise, of course, but the fact Love could be an option to play on Sunday is notable.
An MCL sprain suffered during the Packers’ season opener led to the expectation of a multi-week absence. A stint on injured reserve was not deemed necessary, though, and a recent update indicated Week 5 was Love’s targeted return date. Even if he does not progress to the point where playing is feasible on Sunday, continued practice time could allow the 25-year-old to return to the lineup in Week 4 after just two missed contests.
Love is currently using a brace, and his mobility over the coming days will be key in determining whether or not he plays against the Titans. If that does not end up being the case, Willis will be in line for a second straight start. A contest against Tennessee would be particularly significant given the fact he began his career there before being traded to Green Bay shortly before the start of the regular season.
Willis – who did not expect to be dealt upon losing the Titans’ backup competition to Mason Rudolph – had a solid, if unspectacular, Packers debut in Week 2. The former third-rounder completed 12 of his 14 pass attempts for 122 yards and one touchdown while adding 41 rushing yards. Willis did not take any sacks or commit any turnovers, and a similar outing would be welcomed by team and player against Tennessee if it were necessary. Plenty will depend on how Love progresses over the coming days before a final decision is made.
Packers Will Not Place Jordan Love On IR; Team Has Not Contacted Free Agent QBs
The Packers are set to rely on Malik Willis in the event Jordan Love misses time over the coming weeks. That remains a distinct possibility in the latter’s case, but he will not be placed on injured reserve. 
Love is dealing with an MCL sprain, and he is facing a recovery timeline of three to six weeks. Placing him on IR would guarantee an absence of at least four weeks, but head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday that route will not be taken. Love is therefore a candidate to return on the short end of that timeframe, and for that reason Green Bay is not interested in adding a signal-caller.
“No. Despite reports,” LaFleur said of the Packers having interest in a free agent quarterback (via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette). “It’s crazy to me how people come up with some of these things. I think you explore every possibility, but at no point in time did we ever have any discussions with anybody.”
A report from Sunday stated the Packers reached out to Ryan Tannehill, the most experienced quarterback currently on the market. It was unclear at the time if Green Bay represented a destination Tannehill was interested in as he weighs his options, but LaFleur’s comments confirm no contract talks took place anyway. With Love set to only miss a brief period, the team will rely on Willis and Sean Clifford under center.
Green Bay had Clifford and seventh-round rookie Michael Pratt in place during the summer as they competed for the backup gig. Neither passer impressed, and they were both waived during roster cutdowns. Clifford cleared waivers and was retained on the practice squad whereas Pratt departed and joined the Buccaneers’ taxi squad.
Willis was acquired via trade shortly before the roster cut deadline, giving him a short window of time to learn the Packers’ offense. The former Titans draftee did not anticipate being dealt despite the fact free agent signing Mason Rudolph outperformed him during training camp and the preseason. Willis, 25, made three starts as a rookie but he made only three appearances last season as Tennessee transitioned from Tannehill to Will Levis. The Packers will offer him a new opportunity on a short-term basis until Love is back to full health.
Malik Willis To Start For Packers; Team Has Reached Out To Ryan Tannehill
Packers quarterback Jordan Love will be sidelined for three to six weeks as a result of the MCL sprain he suffered in the club’s Week 1 loss to the Eagles. Recent trade acquisition Malik Willis will step into the starting lineup for Green Bay’s home opener against the Colts next week, per Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer (via Aaron Nagler of CheeseheadTV). 
However, the team has reached out to veteran passer Ryan Tannehill, as Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Tannehill is the most accomplished quarterback still on the market after his Titans tenure came to an end this spring. The 36-year-old has received interest from teams this offseason, but he appeared content to wait out the start of the year and examine the opportunities which presented themselves. Week 1 has certainly done so in the form of the Love injury.
Earlier today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided an update on Tannehill’s status. The Texas A&M alum has stayed in shape while awaiting a potential offer, but he intends to return to action only under the “perfect” circumstances. A playoff contender featuring a strong offensive line and skill-position pieces would be Tannehill’s target, Rapoport notes, while adding finances would play a part as well. With just over $195MM in career earnings, Tannehill can afford to be selective when considering his suitors.
As a team which went to the divisional round of the postseason last year in large part on the strength of its young offense, though, the Packers represent a logical landing spot for Tannehill. Each of Green Bay’s top pass-catchers from last year remain in place, and free agent pickup Josh Jacobs is positioned to handle a heavy workload in the backfield. The team entered Sunday with roughly $14.6MM in cap space, providing the flexibility for a short-term addition under center.
For now, at least, it will be Willis at the helm. The former Titans third-rounder lost out to Mason Rudolph this offseason for the team’s backup gig, prompting his trade to the Packers. Willis was caught off guard by the move, one which came after Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt struggled to earn the QB2 spot. Both young passers were cut, with Clifford being retained via a practice squad deal and Pratt leaving the organization. Clifford represents an option more familiar with Matt LaFleur‘s scheme, but to little surprise Willis get the nod for at least one start.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Packers QB Malik Willis Did Not Anticipate Titans Trade
The Packers and Titans both exited the preseason with questions about their quarterback depth charts. Green Bay ended up cutting both Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, creating the need for a new Jordan Love backup.
The team had previously filled that vacancy by trading for Malik Willis. The 2022 third-rounder was sent to the Packers in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round selection. After the Titans kept free agent pickup Mason Rudolph in the backup role throughout training camp, signs pointed to the veteran earning the QB2 gig. The Willis trade confirmed as much, although he was caught off guard by the deal. 
“I didn’t wake up thinking I was going to be traded,” Willis said (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky). “So it definitely caught me by surprise. More than anything, you just take it [for] what it is. Quick turnaround, and the season’s starting. There’s no more lounging around and kinda getting ready for the season. This is what it is.”
Indeed, the 25-year-old now faces the challenge of learning Matt LaFleur‘s offense after spending the spring and summer acclimating to new Titans head coach Brian Callahan‘s scheme. If Willis is used in the backup role, he will be counted on to step in for Love if/when needed despite having recently arrived with the team. Green Bay did bring Clifford back on practice squad deal, though, meaning the Penn State product will be an option early in the season in particular over Willis.
Neither Clifford (selected in the fifth round of last year’s draft) nor Pratt (a seventh-round rookie) had a strong showing during training camp and the preseason. The latter passed through waivers without being claimed, meaning he is now a free agent. It will be interesting to see if Pratt finds an opportunity relatively soon, but in any case, the Packers are set to move forward with Willis in a notable role. The Liberty alum made only 11 appearances and three starts during his Tennessee tenure, scoring one (rushing) touchdown while throwing three interceptions. Green Bay will represent a fresh start, however.
“I think certainly there were some underwhelming performances at times,” GM Brian Gutekunst confirmed of Clifford and Pratt. “But at the same time, Malik is a guy that certainly, he’s in his third year and he really has shown a lot of progression, particularly this preseason… I’m excited to get him, get him in the building and see where that goes.”
Two years remain on Willis’ rookie contract, giving him time to cement himself as a part of Green Bay’s long-term planning at the QB spot. Cost-effective backups will be important considering Love’s $55MM-per-season extension signed this offseason. Love will be expected to deliver as a franchise passer, but Willis is now positioned to improve on his Tennessee stint in a new environment he did not see himself entering.