Green Bay, Wis. — Jordan Love, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, was absent from practice on Wednesday as he continues to recover from a groin strain that hindered him during the team’s recent 30-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite this setback, Love remains optimistic about his chances of playing in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, who currently lead the NFC North. “I’ve made progress,” he remarked, adding that his condition is improving compared to how it felt during the game on Sunday.
Love, along with several other key Packers players, missed Wednesday’s practice due to injuries. When asked about the likelihood of being fit to play against the Lions, he confidently stated, “I think it’s realistic.” The injury occurred shortly after the start of the game while rolling out to his right during a crucial third down play. Love continued to play until early in the third quarter, when he dropped to the sideline after connecting with teammate Josh Jacobs on a pass.
“This was definitely an issue for me throughout the game,” Love explained. “I tried to push through it, but eventually, I reached a point where I could no longer continue.” This injury marks not the first occasion this season where the Packers faced uncertainty surrounding their quarterback, but they feel more reassured about their options this time due to the performance of backup quarterback Malik Willis.
Earlier this season, Love suffered a left medial collateral ligament injury in a narrow 34-29 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, causing him to miss the following two games. During that stretch, the Packers relied on Malik Willis, who was acquired in a trade with the Tennessee Titans just before the season began. Willis has since shown impressive growth in his role, completing 74.4% of his passes this season with three touchdowns and no interceptions, a significant improvement compared to his previous performance with the Titans.
Under Willis’s leadership, the Packers recorded wins against the Indianapolis Colts and the Titans while Love was sidelined. Willis played a pivotal role in the victory against Jacksonville, completing a crucial 51-yard pass to Jayden Reed that set up the game-winning 24-yard field goal. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed increased confidence in the team’s ability to compete if Love is unable to play, largely due to Willis’s impressive performance under pressure.
LaFleur shared his admiration for Willis’s ability to remain calm in critical situations, which he attributes to the quarterback’s faith. However, Willis believes that the most important aspect of success lies in consistent preparation rather than the confidence derived from previous victories. “Ultimately, it comes down to being prepared for the moment and striving to improve each day,” he indicated.
As the Packers prepare for their clash with the Lions, they may also need a strong performance from their quarterback due to several other key players potentially missing the game. Jacobs (ankle), cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), guard Elgton Jenkins (glute), center Josh Myers (wrist), left tackle Rasheed Walker (knee), and safety Evan Williams (hamstring) were all sidelined during Wednesday’s practice. Linebacker Quay Walker, however, practiced fully after previously missing the Jaguars game while under concussion protocol. Jacobs expressed optimism about his condition, stating, “Just managing my body, man. I’ll be good come game time.”