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Matt LaFleur: Malik Willis will start as Packers QB if Jordan Love can't play; Love not ruled out for Week 2

jason owens
Staff writer
·3-min read
Jordan Love left Friday's game late in the fourth quarter with a reported MCL sprain. (AP photo/Doug Benc)
Jordan Love left Friday's game late in the fourth quarter with a reported MCL sprain. (AP photo/Doug Benc)

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters Monday that backup quarterback Malik Willis will get the start in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts if Jordan Love can't play.

"If Jordan's not clear, then we'll start Malik," LaFleur said at his Monday news conference. "And Sean [Clifford] will be the backup."

Love isn't expected to be available after spraining the MCL in his left knee in Week 1's loss in Brazil to the the Philadelphia Eagles. According to reports, his initial timetable to return was set at 3-6 weeks. But LaFleur declined to rule him out for Sunday's home game against the Colts.

"I couldn't give you a percentage," LaFleur said of Love's chances of playing Sunday. "But if he gets cleared, we'll give him every opportunity like we always will.

"I know he's doing everything in his power. He's spending a lot of time trying to get back as soon as possible. Certainly, we're not gonna put him in a position where if he can't protect himself that he'd go out there."

Love injured his knee on Green Bay's final possession as the Packers failed to rally in a 34-29 Philadelphia win. His left knee twisted awkwardly on a tackle as his foot was planted in the turf while Love tried to extend a broken play.

Willis replaced Love for the final two plays of the game. He threw an incomplete pass and was sacked as the Packers attempted to score a touchdown from midfield in the game's final seconds.

Willis joined the Packers in late August via trade from the Tennessee Titans. He previously played two seasons for Tennessee as a backup and occasional injury-replacement starter after the Titans selected him with a third-round draft pick in 2022 to back up Ryan Tannehill.

Willis appeared in eight games as a rookie, including three starts while Tannehill was injured. The Titans then drafted Will Levis in 2023 and installed him as their starter midseason. They signed Mason Rudolph this offseason to back up Levis, making Willis expendable.

Willis made plays with his athleticism but didn't consistently display a complete quarterback arsenal in his limited opportunities with the Titans. In 11 appearances including three starts in Tennessee, Willis completed 53% of his passes for 5.3 yards per attempt with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He tallied 144 rushing yards and a touchdown on 4.5 yards per carry.