Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that the Green Bay Packers will not place quarterback Jordan Love on the injured reserve list or look for another quarterback until Love recovers from a knee injury.
The injured reserve requires him to miss at least four games, so the Packers clearly believe Love can return within four weeks. Love tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the Packers’ Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
LaFleur didn’t technically rule Love out of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, but he said Malik Willis — the No. 2 quarterback on the 53-man roster — would play if Love isn’t cleared by Sunday. Sean Clifford, who is on the practice squad, will be the backup.
LaFleur flatly denied the Packers are looking for another quarterback to add while Love recovers, and said the team would be cautious about taking a chance on Love returning too soon.
Until Love is ready, the keys to victory will go to Willis, a third-round pick in the 2022 draft who has three NFL starts under his belt.
On August 27, the Packers acquired Willis in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Willis made enough progress in learning the system that LaFleur and the Packers felt comfortable with him as Love’s backup in the season opener.
LaFleur said that with a full week of practice ahead of him, he has “confidence” in Willis’ ability to learn the game plan and play at a “high level” against the Colts.
