Jordan Love’s timetable for recovery from his sprained knee is starting to take shape. Ian Rapoport of NFL NetworkThe Green Bay Packers expect Love to miss “approximately three weeks” with a minor medial collateral ligament sprain, and there is a chance he could return sooner.
“From what I understand, it’s a grade 1-2 medial collateral ligament sprain, probably going to keep him out for a couple of weeks,” Rapoport said Sunday morning on NFL Network. “From what I understand, Jordan Love is probably going to have to sit out about three weeks. Can he get through that? Definitely. We’ll see if he can, but either way, Love is going to be out for the next couple of games.”
Love was injured slow in the fourth quarter of the Packers’ season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night. Rapoport reiterated that Love avoided worst-case scenarios, such as a torn ACL or a sprained ankle. The minor sprain to the medial collateral ligament does not require surgery.
The Packers will face the Indianapolis Colts in their home opener in Week 2, travel to face the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 and welcome the Minnesota Vikings to Lambeau Field in Week 4. It’s possible Love could return as early as Week 5 on the road against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 6 — a month before Friday’s season opener. The shorter end of the timeline leaves Week 4 against the Vikings in play as well.
Rapoport also said no decision has been made at quarterback until Love plays. Malik Willis, a third-round pick by the Titans in 2022, is on the 53-man roster, but Sean Clifford, who backed up Love last season as a rookie, is another option. Clifford has the experience advantage in Matt LaFleur’s offense, but a disappointing summer led to Willis being traded in final cuts and Clifford being relegated to the practice squad for the start of the 2024 season.
“It’s unclear right now whether it’s going to be Malik Willis or Sean Clifford,” Rapoport said. “We’ll see who the starter is going to be in the future.”
Rapoport did not mention that the Packers were looking elsewhere for a quarterback.
Now that Love’s injury status has become clearer, the question in Green Bay is: Can Willis or Clifford steal a game or two while Love recovers on the bench?
