With QB situation unsettled, Packers take on Colts

 

[September 12, 2024]  Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur says the door remains "pretty open" for quarterback Jordan Love to start the home opener Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

With Love reportedly suffering a sprained MCL late in a Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, an injury with a recovery timetable of three to six weeks, the same door might allow Malik Willis to enter the Packers' plans at QB.

Willis took the final two snaps of Green Bay's 34-29 defeat, throwing an incompletion and taking a sack.

Green Bay (0-1) acquired him from the Tennessee Titans for a seventh-round pick on the eve of final roster cuts in August.

LaFleur lauded Willis' diligence and preparation to date. The third-year pro out of Liberty is 35-for-67 for 350 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions in 12 career games.

"It's not like we're dealing with a rookie here," LaFleur said. "He's got a process. I thought he did a great job in his three weeks, which feels like three months since he's been here, of being dialed in."

Barring an accelerated recovery, it's likely the Packers will be minus Love for at least a handful of games, which naturally is a better prognosis than the entire season.

Love, who missed practice Wednesday and isn't medically cleared to play, passed for 260 yards and touchdowns to Jayden Reed and Christian Watson as well as an interception before getting injured. Running back Josh Jacobs rushed 16 times for 84 yards in his team debut, with 32 yards coming on one carry.

After struggling to contain Eagles dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Packers face a similar test in Colts QB Anthony Richardson.

Back under center for Indianapolis (0-1) after an injury-shortened rookie season, Richardson kept the Colts afloat in a season-opening 29-27 home loss to the Houston Texans despite inconsistency.

Richardson passed for 212 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, with both scores covering more than 50 yards.

"He's got a huge arm that allows us to push the ball down the field, and then we've got the speed on the outside to go get it," Colts coach Shane Steichen said. "I think when you're explosive like that in the pass game, instead of having those 12-, 13-, 14-play drives, you get an opportunity to hit some big ones."

Richardson rushed for a team-leading 56 yards, including a 3-yard TD with 2:14 that drew Indianapolis within the final margin.

The Colts endured a substantial injury of their own in Week 1, as starting cornerback JuJu Brents sustained a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve -- a designation the Packers didn't assign to Love.

Veteran Kenny Moore II looms as a possibility to start at the other corner opposite Jaylon Jones and says he's ready to follow Steichen's "next man up" mantra if summoned.

"It speaks true to always being ready," Moore said, "always being prepared."

Houston gained 417 yards of offense against Indianapolis, including a 213-yard effort on the ground.

If the Packers can duplicate that sort of success in the run game, Willis won't need to be supernatural, although he admittedly is cramming to get up to speed.

"The reality is I just got here, so it's gonna be a little bit in overdrive," he said. "It's been pretty much around the clock since I got here. You try to come in and be ready to go if you're called upon."

--Field Level Media

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