Packers' Jordan Love says injury to
his non-throwing shoulder shouldn't limit his effectiveness
[November 26, 2025]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jordan Love says he’s “not going to
sugarcoat” the fact he’s dealing with an injury to his non-throwing
shoulder, however the Green Bay Packers quarterback says it isn’t
something that should prevent him from playing effectively.
Love hurt his left shoulder and missed part of one series before
rallying the Packers to a 27-20 victory over the New York Giants on
Nov. 16. He returned to start Green Bay’s 23-6 triumph over the
Minnesota Vikings on Sunday but was only handing off with his right
hand.
“It’s one of those where I’m able to play through it,” Love said
Tuesday. “Obviously, anytime you take a hit, fall on it, you feel
it. But nothing that it is holding me back or nothing that I can’t
play through.”
Love is dealing with this injury as the Packers prepare to play
their second game in a five-day stretch. The Packers (7-3-1) visit
the Detroit Lions (7-4) on Thursday.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Love's ability to continue playing
is a testament to the quarterback's toughness.
“It takes a lot of physical and mental toughness to play the
quarterback position, to be able to stand in there, especially when
you are injured, knowing that you’re probably going to get hit at
some point,” LaFleur said. “I thought he exuded that. I thought
there were some moments where I was kind of holding my breath at
times where he’s getting hit and releasing the ball.”
This is the second time this season that Love has dealt with an
injury to his non-throwing hand or arm. He underwent surgery on his
left thumb in August, an injury that gave him some experience at
using only his right hand on handoffs.
“I think early on when I had my thumb surgery, I was doing a lot
with just (my) right hand, and I think I just kind of subconsciously
started doing that in this game,” Love said.
LaFleur noted the complications that can come from only using one
hand for handoffs throughout a game.
“I don’t think you necessarily want to see that,” LaFleur said. “I
think it’s not natural, and you never want to put the ball in
jeopardy. And certainly some of our passes will come off our
actions, and if you’re not doing the right action, it can take away
from that effect, I would say.”
Love’s latest injury occurred when he took a big hit from Demetrius
Flannigan-Fowles at the end of a scramble late in the first quarter
of the Giants game. Malik Willis came in and led the Packers into
the end zone before Love returned for the next series.
“It’s an injury,” Love said. “I’m not going to sugarcoat it.”
The injury didn’t stop him from throwing two touchdown passes later
in that game and leading the Packers to another victory the
following week.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) passes during the
first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Love had season lows in pass attempts (21) and
passing yards (139) against the Vikings, but LaFleur said the
Packers stayed conservative on offense by design because their
defense was dominating the game so thoroughly.
Love said the Packers have taken steps to help protect his shoulder
as much as possible, though he didn’t offer specifics.
“There’s things that you are able to do, and we’ve done those
things,” Love said. “So we’ll continue to do them but I’m not going
to continue to get into detail and talk through it, but there’s
definitely some things that we’ve done to help out and be able to
play and hopefully put myself in the best foot forward. But at the
end of the day, anytime you’re injured, playing through things,
there’s always a chance of risking more injuries, things like that.”
Sunday marked the third time in four games that Love hasn’t thrown a
touchdown pass. He has two touchdown passes over his past four games
after throwing 13 in Green Bay’s first seven games. He has thrown
only three interceptions all season.
Love lost his most reliable option when tight end Tucker Kraft tore
his anterior cruciate ligament in a 16-13 loss to the Carolina
Panthers on Nov. 2. Love has spent the past two games adjusting to
taking snaps from a different player, as Sean Rhyan took over at
center after Elgton Jenkins hurt his ankle. LaFleur has said Jenkins
is “highly unlikely” to return this season.
The Packers did get wide receiver Christian Watson back last month
after he recovered from a torn ACL. The Packers also opened the
21-day practice window for Jayden Reed last week as he prepares to
return from foot and shoulder injuries that have kept him out since
mid-September.
“I think the offense, we’ve got to constantly be evolving and
finding ways to get guys who are kind of hot in the moment, keep
feeding them and finding ways to evolve as an offense,” Love said.
“That’s the journey of the season as it goes through. Injuries
happen, but you’ve got to find ways to keep going and keep
adjusting.”
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