Jordan Love injury update: When will the Packers QB return after leg injury in season opener?

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will be sitting in the sidelines after hurting his leg on week 1 against the Eagles, which could compel them to look for other options.

Jordan Love injury update: When will the Packers QB return after leg injury in season opener?

Jordan Love (Image via IMAGO)

Jordan Love is expected to miss 3-6 weeks after injuring his leg in the final moments of the Green Bay Packers opening day game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night. Love spent the night at the local hospital before returning to the Packers hotel.

Initially, doctors assumed Love tore his ACL, but that doesn’t appear to be the case any longer. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 25-year-old may return to the Packers lineup in mid-to-the late October, which means missing around 3-6 weeks of football fixtures.

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Tom Pelissero backed up the claims. In the meantime, the Packers will face the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and Houston Texans in the next six weeks. They don’t have a bye week until week 10.

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If it really is MCL, then Love survived a massive scare just after signing a $220 million deal. In most cases, players don’t need to have surgery unless it’s an ACL tear.

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What happened to Jordan Love in Brazil?

The game between the Eagles and Packers went down to the wire. With only 20 seconds left on the clock, two Eagles players tackled Love, twisting his left leg in the process.

Packers QB Jordan Love set to miss 3-6 weeks because of injury in week 1 game against Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil
Jordan Love (Image via IMAGO)

After a prolonged pause, the Packers took the 5th-year quarterback off the field and replaced him with Malik Willis, who slipped while throwing his first pass for the franchise, and the game ended 34-29 in the Eagles’ favor.

Jordan Love completed the night with 17/34 for 260 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Running back Josh Jacobs carried the ball 16 times for 84 yards. Jayden Reed caught 4 passes for 136 yards (34.5 yards per catch), 1 receiving touchdown, and 1 rushing touchdown.

Will Malik Willis be the replacement for Jordan Love until he recovers?

The Packers traded for Malik Willis last month from the Titans for a late-round pick. He is still new and learning the playbook, but LaFleur felt comfortable enough to send him in over veteran Sean Clifford, who since the move fell down to QB #3.

It’s more than likely the Packers will continue with Willis even though he still has much to learn about the playbook. Regardless, LaFleur seems confident in the 25-year-old’s abilities.

He knows what he’s doing. It’s still the refinement of everything—the details, the fundamentals. But he’s working hard at it.
Matt LaFleur said as per PackersNews.com

In LaFleur’s perspective, Willis possesses the arm talent for the NFL, but every coach has their way of teaching the footwork. It’s the framework for consistent quarterback play.

You better have arm talent, or you’re not even going to have an opportunity to come into this league. He certainly has that. It’s just about the refinement of the footwork and what we’re asking these guys to do.
Matt LaFleur added

The Packers have the option to get veteran help

It will not surprise anyone if the Packers add a veteran quarterback depending on whether LaFleur finds both Willis and Clifford unfit to have the starting role. Ryan Tannehill is still available in free agency, but the craziest thing they can pull off is poaching Josh Dobbs, who is now the third choice at the San Francisco 49ers.

Dobbs managed really well in his limited time for the Niners last season and balled out in the pre-season this year. However, Kyle Allen bagged the backup job, and he might be interested if the Packers offered him the instant starting position.

There’s also the option of taking Bailey Zappe from the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. Zappe fell out of favor in New England after head coach Jerod Mayo added three new quarterbacks to their lineup. They eventually cut him, and he ended up in Kansas City. It’s unlikely Zappe will see any game time with the reigning Super Bowl champs. So the Packers can take their pick.

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