Rapoport: Packers player Jordan Love expected to be out for the next few weeks due to injury | News, results, highlights, stats and rumors

The Green Bay Packers aren't sure if Jordan Love will play in Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts despite his strained medial ligament, but they are reportedly preparing to have Malik Willis play for the foreseeable future.

“Malik Willis is expected to be the starter this week and likely for the next few weeks,” NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday.

The update comes after Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters on Wednesday that the door was still “pretty open” for Love to play.

But Rapoport's update suggested the starter will not play against the Colts, as did early reports from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that Love could be out between three and six weeks at the start of the season.

Nevertheless, Pelissero's report said there was “some initial optimism that, pending a second opinion, he might return sooner rather than later.”

Green Bay also has not placed Love on the injured list, which could indicate that the team believes he could be back in less than four weeks.

Love suffered the injury on the final drive of the Packers' season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. They had to bring in Willis for what was likely the final Hail Mary pass, but he was sacked and the game was over.

Expectations were high for the NFC North team entering the season, largely because of Love's presence and hopes that he would take another step in his second full year as a starter. But those plans are on hold for now, and the quarterback question could be a significant problem for an extended period of time early in the season.

Willis has appeared in 12 games since the Tennessee Titans selected him as a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and has zero touchdown passes and three interceptions. He has attempted just 67 passes in that stretch, although he could hurt opposing defenses with his legs if given the opportunity.

It looks like Willis will be the central figure against the Colts and beyond, meaning the Packers may be treading water for the first month of the season.