Packers will not place QB Jordan Love (knee) on the injured list

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers do not plan to place quarterback Jordan Love on the injured list, meaning they expect the recovery from his left knee injury to be rather short. In the meantime, they will prepare recently signed Malik Willis to be their starting quarterback on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

Green Bay traded a seventh-round draft pick to the Tennessee Titans for Willis a day before finalizing roster cuts last month. If he starts Sunday's home opener at Lambeau Field, he will do so just 20 days after joining the Packers.

Willis served as a backup in Friday's opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, taking the final two snaps – an incomplete pass and a sack – after Love suffered a sprained medial ligament in his left knee with six seconds left in the 34-29 loss.

The only other quarterback currently on the team is Sean Clifford, who was Love's backup last season but is now on the practice squad. The Packers can use a game-day raise to activate Clifford for the game without adding him to the 53-man roster.

“Yeah, if Jordan isn't cleared, then we'll start with Malik and Sean will be the backup,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Monday.

“Why Malik and not Sean? Because Malik is on the roster and he's our second quarterback, and that's how we're going to go.”

LaFleur also said the Packers have no plans to sign an experienced outside quarterback.

Willis has made three NFL starts in his career – all in 2022 as a third-round rookie – and the Titans have gone 1-2 in those games. In the lone win, which came over the Houston Texans, Willis threw just 10 passes and completed six for 55 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Both of the Titans' touchdowns in the 17-10 victory came from running back Derrick Henry.

In his three starts in 2022, he completed 25 of 49 passes for 234 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He did not reach the 100-yard passing mark in any of those games. In his three starts overall, he ran 20 times for 95 yards and one touchdown.

“I think he's put a lot of time and effort into this,” LaFleur said of Willis' approach since joining the team. “He's worked hard, he's learned the terminology and he can spit out the plays, and we have confidence in him. I think if he gets a full week of preparation, a full week of practice, I'm confident he's going to go out there and play at a high level.”

Although LaFleur did not rule Love out this week, it is unlikely he will be able to play against the Colts. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Saturday that Love's return is possible in three to four weeks. After the Colts game, the Packers will play at Willis' old team in Tennessee and host the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 29. If Love misses all of those games, he could return for the Oct. 6 game at the Los Angeles Rams. Players placed on the injured list must sit out four games.

“If he's acquitted, we'll give him every opportunity, as we always do,” LaFleur said. “I know he's doing everything he can. I know he's spending a lot of time trying to get back as quickly as possible. But we're certainly not going to put him in a position where he has to go out there if he can't protect himself.”

Love's injury occurred in his first regular-season appearance after signing his four-year, $220 million contract extension at the start of training camp. He did not speak to reporters after the game in Brazil, and players have not played since the team returned from that game on Saturday.

“We're never going to put him in a position where he has to take out a short-term mortgage for the future,” LaFleur said. “You know what I mean? If he can't protect himself, we wouldn't do that to him or our football team.”