Jordan Love’s status is uncertain as the Green Bay Packers prepare to face the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions, a game featuring two of the hottest teams in the NFC.
Love left the Packers’ 30-27 win at Jacksonville on Sunday in the third quarter due to a groin issue. A source familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that he has a groin strain.
This person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Packers have not shared details about Love’s injury. NFL Network was the first to report the results of Love’s MRI.
“If he can go, he’ll go,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. “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.”
LaFleur mentioned that Love initially got hurt during the first series of the game. He continued playing until he fell to the ground near the sideline after completing a second-down pass to Josh Jacobs early in the third quarter.
“I just thought it was a tough, gritty performance,” LaFleur said.
If Love cannot play on Sunday, the Packers still have reason to feel optimistic with backup Malik Willis.
Willis has started two games this season and led the Packers to wins against the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans while Love was recovering from an injured left knee ligament.
He stepped up again on Sunday when Green Bay took possession at their own 30-yard line with 1:48 left in a tie game. Willis connected with Jayden Reed on a 51-yard pass that put the Packers in field-goal range. Brandon McManus then secured the win with a 24-yard field goal as time expired.
Willis’ past performance didn’t indicate he could do this when the Packers traded a seventh-round pick to acquire him from the Titans just before the season.
The 2022 third-round pick from Liberty had started three games for Tennessee as a rookie but never threw for as many as 100 yards in any of them. He completed 35 of 66 passes with three interceptions and no touchdown throws.
He has completed 74.4% of his passes with the Packers, totaling 380 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He has also rushed for 137 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries.
“I’m so impressed by his ability to go in there mid-game,” LaFleur said. “The moment’s not too big for him. I don’t think that’s the case for everybody. It seems like his heartbeat just stays pretty consistent.
There were some big-time plays he made in that game, obviously, and I also think the belief that the team has in him and his ability to lead us is pretty clear when you watch us play.”
