Jordan Love injury: What this means for Packers, list of potential replacements as QB expected to miss time

The Inexperienced Bay Packers’ hopes of contending in 2024 have taken successful. Within the season-opening, 34-29 loss towards the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, quarterback Jordan Love suffered a sprained MCL. The excellent news is that Love’s preliminary timetable to return is 3 to six weeks, per NFL Media, and there is optimism he may return sooner somewhat than later.

Whereas Love was trying to steer a game-winning drive with lower than 30 seconds remaining within the contest, the $220-million quarterback was twisted round as he tried to battle via defenders within the pocket earlier than dumping the ball off to operating again Josh Jacobs. Love was in clear misery after hitting the bottom, however in the end limped off the sector with trainers. 

When requested about Love’s standing following the sport, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur merely responded with, “I do not know.” Earlier than exiting the competition, Love accomplished 17 of 34 passes for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

The younger Packers are seen as a possible NFC contender this season. Following a 9-8 marketing campaign in 2023, which led to a playoff berth and eventual postseason victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers seem like a staff able to take that subsequent step with a younger quarterback that threw 23 touchdowns in comparison with simply three interceptions within the remaining 10 video games of his first full season as starter. That one season netted Love a four-year extension price $220 million in July. 

In keeping with Stephen Oh, SportsLine’s principal knowledge engineer, the Packers’ long-term outlook will not take an excessive amount of of successful. He projected the Packers for 9.7 wins and a 63.3% probability to make the playoffs with a wholesome Love and 9.2 wins and a 55.0% probability to make the playoffs with Love sidelined three video games. Inexperienced Bay has a seemingly favorable schedule arising, as its subsequent three video games are dwelling towards the Indianapolis Colts, on the Tennessee Titans and residential vs. the Vikings.

Love’s backup is 25-year-old Malik Willis, who Inexperienced Bay traded a seventh-round choose to the Tennessee Titans for only a couple weeks in the past. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst selected him over Sean Clifford (who’s now on the follow squad) and Michael Pratt, so may they merely transfer ahead with the previous third-round pick of Liberty?

Willis would not have a lot NFL expertise, as he is began simply three video games, profitable certainly one of them, and has thrown for a complete of 350 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Nevertheless, Willis has made clear strides in his improvement over the previous few seasons, and is an intriguing dual-threat expertise. 

If the Packers do determine to seek out Love’s substitute outdoors of the constructing, listed below are a couple of choices:

Talking of former Titans quarterbacks, not solely is Tannehill one of the best obtainable free-agent quarterback, however he is aware of a little bit bit about coming in and saving a staff’s season. Again in 2019, Tannehill changed Marcus Mariota beneath middle and helped Tennessee win seven of its remaining 10 video games. The Titans earned a playoff berth due to their sturdy end, then defeated Tom Brady and the New England Patriots within the wild-card spherical, and the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens on their dwelling area earlier than falling to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the AFC Championship recreation. It earned Tannehill NFL Comeback Participant of the 12 months honors. 

Tannehill retained the job of beginning quarterback for the Titans for the subsequent 4 seasons, going 39-24 because the starter with two AFC South titles. After being sidelined because of an ankle damage in 2023, he was changed by rookie Will Levis.

The 36-year-old Tannehill stated this offseason he was in search of the proper alternative. Whereas he must are available in and rapidly be taught the offense, alternatives do not get a lot better than this.

The Packers would wish to commerce for Winston, who’s presently slated because the Cleveland Browns’ backup behind Deshaun Watson, however the former No. 1 total choose could be a superb substitute for Love. Not solely is the 30-year-old veteran a pure chief whom the younger Packers may rally round, however he is one of many higher backup quarterbacks within the NFL who can nonetheless sling it.

Winston is known (notorious?) for the first-ever “30 and 30” season in 2019, the place he threw 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions whereas main the league in passing yards with 5,109 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After being changed by Brady, Winston signed with the rival New Orleans Saints and threw for 20 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and received six of 10 begins in 4 whole seasons. 

The Western Kentucky product discovered himself on the surface trying in with the Patriots QB room, and he’s now on the follow squad of the reigning Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs. Packers followers know a little bit one thing about Zappe, as his first NFL motion got here at Lambeau Area. When Brian Hoyer went down with a concussion in a Week 4 matchup vs. the Packers again in 2022, the rookie Zappe got here in and accomplished 10 of 15 passes for 99 yards and one landing, whereas taking Aaron Rodgers to time beyond regulation. 

In all, Zappe is 4-4 as a starter and has thrown for two,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In the event you’re in search of a youthful participant with an enormous arm who as soon as caught the attention of Invoice Belichick, you’ve got it in Zappe.