Jordan Love Miraculously Avoids The IR, But Now Malik Willis Will Be Tasked With Making Sure The Packers' Season Doesn't Implode Before The $220M Man Returns
By all means, the Packers received a huge break when they got the MRI back on Jordan Love's knee. A grade 1 MCL sprain seems like a miracle considering just how bad the slow mo replays looked at first. The prognosis is so good that Love isn't even going on the IR.
While addressing the media yesterday, LaFleur opted to go with some good ol' gamesmanship, by leaving the door open for Love to play on Sunday at home against the Colts. The goal? Make Indy prepare for as many QBs as humanly possible.
Now let's get something out of the way quick. Jordan Love is not playing on Sunday. There's just no way. That would be outrageous to throw him right back out there after the injury he suffered on Friday. Still though, him not going on the IR has to make you feel good about his chance of playing either against the Titans or Vikings in the coming weeks after.
For now though, the Packers seem hellbent on starting Malik Willis while Love is sidelined. That's a problem.
I don't know how Willis did it, but this cat had people convinced he was worth taking at the top of the 2022 draft. Maybe it was his highlight tape at Liberty or the combine, but there was serious buzz around him back then.
That noise fell off as ended up going in the 3rd, but there were some crazy talks going on leading up to the that draft. He found himself on the Titans where he mostly backed up. He's yet to throw a touchdown so far in 67 career attempts. His speed is his weapon. Here he outruns all pro Kyle Hamilton to score a touchdown. I'm expecting a ton of this on Sunday vs. the Colts.
Throwing is not his forte. Here he throws a miserable interception. At times he looks scared to even attempt passes. It's stunning.
Now the Packers catch a break here with the schedule over their next three games: vs. Colts, @ Tenn, vs. Minn. While that's great, you cannot afford to fuck that up. 0-4 simply cannot happen, 1-3 is fine, 2-2 is a dream. Can Willis help win you a game? Well, he fucking better. The caliber of team they're playing helps along with the weapons he has to work with, but if he's put in a situation where he's trailing and needs to make plays, that's a big issue. Unless MLF plans on unlocking this dude, this could get very dangerous very fast.
I like to doubt Gute and MLF a ton when it comes to their decisions, but this one you just gotta trust they know what they're doing by not adding another QB to the team. Ryan Tannehill is out there, but it feels like he only wants to join a team where he's going to remain the starter. With Love avoiding the IR, this is a short term solution they're looking for. Willis appears to be the guy they're hellbent on playing. I just hope they're not wrong.
Win a game or two and then get this beautiful man back throwing darts all over the field.
He did that while cramping in his calf by the way. Special stuff. Cannot be back soon enough.