Packers QB Jordan Love (knee) expected to return, start vs. Vikings on Sunday
Twenty-two days and 4,884 miles removed from suffering an MCL sprain, Jordan Love will make his return.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback is expected to return to the lineup for Sunday’s game against the visiting Minnesota Vikings, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday, per a source.
Having injured his knee in the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL’s first-ever game in Brazil, Love was originally expected to miss three to six weeks. Instead, he’s back after missing just two games.
Love was questionable to play on each of the previous two Fridays before he was inevitably inactive. This time around, he’s playing after a third questionable designation in as many weeks.
Despite the excitement for Love’s return, Packers backers are likely to be watching with equal parts excitement and apprehension about the health of their franchise QB.
He’s coming off a sterling season in which he finished in phenomenal form, throwing for 4,159 passing yards and 32 touchdowns as he rallied Green Bay into the playoffs. After his first campaign as Green Bay’s QB1, Love was rewarded with an extension in the offseason, but hit a huge speed bump in the season opener when he was injured on the third-to-last play.
Now, Love, who threw for 260 yards and two TDs in Week 1, is set to make his 2024 debut on North American soil.
Love and Green Bay (2-1) kick off against Minnesota (3-0) at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
The Green Bay Packers kept Jordan Love’s status secret for as long as possible, but their actions speak louder than words.
Following ESPN’s Adam Schefter report that Love is expected to play, the Packers effectively confirmed it with their latest roster move. Green Bay did not elevate Sean Clifford to the game day roster, which means Love and Malik Willis are the only two quarterbacks available to play.
The secret is out. The Packers haven’t officially said Love is playing, but they don’t need to. They wouldn’t leave Clifford on the practice squad if there were any doubts. Love is back.
Even with Jordan Love’s return, not elevating Sean Clifford is surprising move for Packers
The Packers must feel comfortable with Love’s status. Even if there were a slight hint of doubt that he could play, they would’ve called up Clifford. There’s no way Green Bay would risk Love feeling discomfort in his knee in pregame warmups and have no backup option. Promoting Clifford made sense even if Love was expected to return.
Only two quarterbacks can play tomorrow: Love and Clifford. The Packers can no longer promote a player from the practice squad following the deadline.
When Love is fully healthy, it makes total sense, but with him likely not yet at 100 percent, it is somewhat surprising the Packers haven’t opted for the added insurance. They clearly feel comfortable in Love’s health.
Their decision to elevate cornerbacks Robert Rochell and Kamal Hadden may have confirmed our worst fears about Jaire Alexander’s status. He is questionable due to a quad injury.
The good news is that Love is back. While it’s surprising they didn’t elevate Clifford for the added security, they clearly have confidence that he is close enough to 100 percent and isn’t at added risk of making his knee worse.
Green Bay faces a tough test against Brian Flores’ defense, but Love proved he can provide the answers to the Vikings’ various disguised coverages in last season’s three-touchdown game against them.
Back in the lineup, hopefully Love can replicate that performance from New Year’s Eve.
