Will He or Won’t He?
The question on every Packers fan’s mind: Is Jordan Love actually going to play this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings? All signs point to his return, but nothing is certain yet. The young quarterback said earlier this week that he was “close” to being ready, and while that sounds promising, we’ve been here before. His official status? Still not 100% confirmed.
Injury Concerns Loom Over Sunday’s Game
Love suffered a sprained left medial collateral ligament in the season opener, and since then, it’s been a week-to-week watch on his recovery. This Sunday’s game is crucial—it’s the Packers’ first NFC North showdown, and it’s against the red-hot undefeated Vikings. The Vikings’ defense is no joke; they rank second in the league for points allowed per game (10.0) and lead the NFL in sacks.
But with Love’s status still unclear, fans are left wondering: is the risk of reinjury too high for him to take the field?
Backup Plan? Malik Willis Ready to Go
If Love doesn’t play, the Packers will again turn to backup Malik Willis, who led the team to two straight wins in Love’s absence. But don’t let those victories fool you—Willis didn’t pass much in those games. The Packers’ run-heavy offense revolved around Willis’ mobility, and while that worked against weaker teams, it may not cut it against Minnesota. To pull off a win, they’ll likely need a more balanced attack.
And that’s where the suspense kicks in: will Love be ready to bring back the passing game, or will we see Willis try to hold the fort again?
Hints That Love Might Play
There are some encouraging signs that Love could be under center this Sunday. For one, the Packers did not elevate Sean Clifford from the practice squad to the active roster for this game. Clifford had been elevated the past two weeks because Love was sidelined. Normally, if Love wasn’t going to play, the Packers would need a backup for Willis. So does Clifford staying down mean Love is all set to go?
Maybe. But it’s not guaranteed.
A Tough Comeback for Love
Even if Love does play, his mobility will be tested. The last time he faced the Vikings, he torched their complex blitz schemes, leading the Packers to a dominant 33-10 win where he wasn’t sacked a single time. But this time around, Love is fresh off a knee injury, and the Vikings will likely bring the heat early to see how he handles it.
The Risk Factor
Love injured his knee in the final seconds of the season opener against the Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil. As he tried to shovel a pass to running back Josh Jacobs, a defender hit his knee from the side, causing immediate pain. Love has since been rehabbing, but is he really ready for the fast-paced, hard-hitting Vikings defense? The Packers medical team will be keeping a close eye on him up until game time.
Other Packers Injuries Add to the Drama
It’s not just Love that the Packers are concerned about. This week, the team elevated cornerbacks Robert Rochell and Kamal Hadden from the practice squad to the active roster, a move that suggests starting cornerback Jaire Alexander may not be available due to thigh and groin injuries.
Final Call Still Unclear
So, will Jordan Love suit up and lead the Packers this Sunday? All indications suggest he will, but with his knee injury still looming over the decision, the final call is up in the air. If he does play, expect to see the Packers test his limits early. But if he doesn’t? It’s another round of Malik Willis versus one of the NFL’s toughest defenses.
All eyes will be on Green Bay as fans wait to see if their star QB is ready to take the field or if the team will have to rely on their backup once more.