Love Sidelined with Sprained MCL

Bittersweet news came out of Green Bay this weekend as Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that starting quarterback Jordan Love will be sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks with a sprained MCL. While the injury is a setback, the positive news is that it could have been much worse—potentially season-ending, like an ACL tear. Love, who is coming off his best season and his first as a full-time starter, earned a major contract extension this past offseason. He performed well in Week 1 against the Eagles in Brazil before suffering the injury with less than a minute left on the clock.

In Love’s absence, Malik Willis is expected to take over as the starter. However, Willis has only been with the team for about a month following a trade from the Titans, and he lacks the experience of a seasoned veteran to command the offense with confidence. While Willis possesses NFL-caliber talent, he has struggled to put it all together, leading to his replacement by Will Levis in Tennessee. LaFleur has confirmed that Willis will start for the foreseeable future, though the possibility of the team bringing in another quarterback remains. Rumors have surfaced about the Packers contacting Ryan Tannehill, though no deal is currently on the table.

The Packers are undoubtedly banking on their franchise quarterback’s return to lead the team through the season. In the meantime, the offense will likely lean heavily on the run game, with newly signed running back Josh Jacobs expected to see an increased workload. Additionally, Willis’ mobility could play a key role, as LaFleur may incorporate designed runs or rely on his scrambling ability to keep the offense moving.

Coach LaFleur will have his work cut out for him over the next few weeks, as he’ll need to adjust the game plan to keep the Packers in playoff contention while they await Love’s return.