Sports
Jordan Love Out 3-6 Weeks: Are The Green Bay Packers In Danger Of Missing The Playoffs?
The Green Bay Packers entered the 2024 NFL season with great potential.
In the NFC, the Packers were considered a Super Bowl contender.
Jordan Love had the best second half of any QB last season.
The Green Bay Packers smashed the Cowboys in the wild-card round last year.
They put up a big fight against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional round before ultimately falling short.
Love continued to look great in week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, unfortunately, as the game was nearing an end, Love was injured and suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain.
Green Bay lost the game and is 0-1 after week 1.
That is not the issue, the issue is Love is expected to be out for 3-6 weeks.
Below, we take a look at whether the Green Bay Packers can overcome the injury to Love or if they are in trouble of missing the postseason.
Can The Green Bay Packers Overcome Jordan Love’s Injury?
Jordan Love suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain at the end of their week 1 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Love is expected to miss 3-6 weeks.
Even if he can manage to return after three weeks, he will take some time to play at the level he has been.
Malik Willis is expected to start for the Green Bay Packers while Love is out.
Willis has 12 regular-season NFL appearances and three starts on his resume.
He last started in December 2022 for the Tennessee Titans.
Willis is nowhere near the level of talent or QB that Love is.
The Packers may look to bring in Ryan Tannehill to either back up Willis or take over the starting role till Love is back.
Either way, it is a significant downgrade at the most important position.
Green Bay’s next three games are at home against the Colts, on the road against Willis’ former team, the Titans, and then back at home in a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Those are three challenging matchups.
With Love, Green Bay would be favored to win each contest.
However, with Malik Willis under center, Green Bay is in danger of losing all three contests.
Looking at just their next three games is being optimistic that Love will return after missing just three weeks.
The next three games after the Vikings is a road matchup against the LA Rams, home against the Cardinals, and home against the Houston Texans.
Another rough three-game stretch if Love is either out or not healthy.
It will be challenging for the Green Bay Packers to overcome Love’s injury as Willis is nowhere near the talent Love is.
Are The Packers In Danger Of Missing The Playoffs?
With Willis under center and Love expected to miss 3-6 weeks, the Green Bay Packers face an uphill battle to stay competitive.
Even if Love returns on the shorter side of his timeline, he will not be near full health when he returns.
Green Bay’s next three games are at home against the Colts, on the road against Willis’ former team, the Titans, and then back at home in a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
That is if Love returns after missing just three weeks.
The next three games after the Vikings is a road matchup against the LA Rams, home against the Cardinals, and home against the Houston Texans.
Love will likely return at some point during their stretch of facing the Rams, Cardinals, or Texans.
What the Green Bay Packers have lacked is a rush defense and they will face Jonathan Taylor and former Packer Aaron Jones in two of their next three games.
If their defense struggles to stop opposing teams, Willis will not be able to keep Green Bay in games like Love can.
With a tough next six games and already being 0-1, the Green Bay Packers are in danger of missing the playoffs this season.