Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur still believes Jordan Love has a chance to play on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, even though a left knee injury kept him out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
“He’s going to do everything he can to get there, and we’ll give him a week to do that,” LaFleur said Thursday.
Is this posturing by the Packers? Does Love have a real chance to play?
Love, who sprained his medial collateral ligament in the season opener, was the only player on the Packers roster who was unable to practice Wednesday and Thursday of this week. But LaFleur said earlier this week that Love — now in his second year as a starter — would not be required to practice to play Sunday against the Colts.
Love has not yet been cleared by a doctor to return. The team would have to trust the medical opinion on the injury and Love’s confidence to play and protect himself to allow their $220 million quarterback to return to the field.
In an interview with Larry McCarren of the team’s official website, LaFleur described Love’s injury as “day to day,” lending further credence to the possibility of Love’s return being sooner than expected.
“I would say it’s more of a day-to-day thing than anything else,” LaFleur said. “He’s going to continue to do everything he can to get back on the field as quickly as possible. And we have great resources here.”
Malik Willis will start at quarterback if Love is not cleared to play before Sunday. However, it looks increasingly likely that Love’s absence will be short-lived. After Sunday’s game with the Colts, the Packers travel to Tennessee to play the Titans in Week 3 and host the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4.
The Packers will release their final injury and player status report on Friday, so expect more information soon.
Hear more of LaFleur and McCarren’s statements about the Total Packers below:
