GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers have faced challenges with their passing game recently, and head coach Matt LaFleur is eager for his offense to regain its rhythm as they prepare for an NFC wild-card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday.
Both of the team’s quarterbacks—starter Jordan Love and backup Malik Willis—are currently managing injuries that have hindered their throwing capabilities, particularly after last Sunday’s defeat against the Chicago Bears in the season’s final game.
Jordan Love encountered numbness in his right hand after hitting his elbow on the Lambeau Field turf during the second quarter, which limited his practice participation on Wednesday. However, he reported that his hand felt “pretty much back to normal” the following morning. Despite this improvement, Love indicated that his elbow remained sore as he engaged in some restricted throwing activities, noting that he felt pain during the motions.
When questioned about his availability for Sunday’s game, Love responded, “We’ll see. Yeah, I’m hopeful.” Meanwhile, Malik Willis, who injured his right thumb after it collided with a Bears defender’s helmet, also faced limitations during practice, leaving his status for the upcoming game in question. Willis admitted, “I mean, it doesn’t feel normal, no,” and he emphasized that he was taking a day-by-day approach to his recovery.
Both quarterbacks’ injuries come as the Packers’ passing attack has shown promise during the latter part of the regular season, even if recent losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Bears have dampened their performance.
Throughout the season, the Packers ranked eighth in scoring offense (averaging 27.1 points) and fifth in total offense (370.8 yards per game). In the passing department, they stood 12th with an average of 223.9 yards per game and third in passing yards per play (7.95). This success was partly due to running back Josh Jacobs and a strong ground game, reducing the pressure on Love compared to previous seasons.
However, in their last two games against the Vikings and Bears, the Packers’ quarterbacks managed to complete only 36 out of 55 passes for 390 yards, yielding just one touchdown and enduring six sacks. Love, who had an impressive stretch of throwing for 1,054 yards, eight touchdowns, and no interceptions in the preceding five games, saw his completion rate drop to 61.9% in the last two outings, resulting in only one touchdown pass.
When discussing what needs to improve for better accuracy and productivity in the passing game, Love emphasized the importance of footwork, timing, and synchronization with receivers while also focusing on fundamentals. “There’s a lot of things that play into that,” he stated, noting that attention to detail and translating practice efforts to game scenarios will be key.
Complicating matters for the Packers is the absence of Christian Watson, a significant playmaking threat, who sustained a torn ACL in his right knee during the game against the Bears and will miss the remainder of the season.
Wide receiver Bo Melton expressed disappointment over Watson’s injury but remains optimistic. “Not having Christian, we all are upset about that. Christian is one of the best players on this team,” he said, adding, “I feel like everybody in our room can step up. We have a lot of playmakers in that room. We’ll be ready for sure.”