The Green Bay Packers are navigating a challenging quarterback situation as they head into their Week 2 matchup, but they’ve made their decision on who will lead the offense in Jordan Love’s absence.
NFL Network Insider Jay Glazer reported that Malik Willis will start for the Packers in their home opener against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15. This comes after Love’s injury has left Green Bay without their primary signal-caller.
Glazer provided an update on Love’s condition, noting that while Love’s injury is a Grade 1 or 2 sprained MCL—expected to sideline him for two to four weeks—there’s a silver lining. It’s not as severe as an ACL tear, which could have meant a much longer recovery. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur echoed this optimism, confirming Willis as the starter for the Colts game.
The Packers acquired Willis from the Tennessee Titans in a trade for a 2025 seventh-round pick, aiming to shore up their backup quarterback situation after underwhelming performances from Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt in training camp. Despite the trade, Willis’s grasp of the Packers’ offense remains a concern, and his performance history is mixed. In his three career starts with the Titans, Willis completed just 51% of his passes for 234 yards, with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Packers are relieved that Love’s injury isn’t more serious, as a torn ACL would have potentially ended his season and significantly impacted their 2024 plans. While the sprained MCL still means Love is out for a few weeks, the Packers are hopeful he could return sooner, depending on his recovery progress.
Should Willis falter, the Packers might need to explore additional quarterback options. While free-agent choices are limited, Ryan Tannehill stands out as a potential candidate due to his starting experience. However, Tannehill’s 2023 season was disappointing, and his performance in the latter part of the year was not enough to secure a strong endorsement.
Alternatively, if Willis struggles, the Packers might look to Sean Clifford, although given the issues that led to Willis’s acquisition, Clifford’s return might not be seen as an improvement.
In the meantime, the Packers will move forward with Willis, hoping he can maintain competitiveness and keep the team’s season on track until Love’s return.