It’s a familiar Friday for Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.
For the fourth Friday this season, Love has drawn a questionable designation as the Packers head into a massive Week 9 showdown against the Detroit Lions with first place in the NFC North at stake.
This time around, Love is nursing a groin injury. From Week 2 through 4, he was dealing with a shoulder ailment. If Love's latest injury keeps him from playing on Sunday, he’ll be replaced once again by Malik Willis, who filled in for him earlier this season and produced excellent results.
During a 30-27 Week 8 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Love exited with the groin injury. Love returned to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday and on Friday was limited again. He said Wednesday it was “realistic” he could play. That remains to be seen.
Love so far has flexed his stellar arm abilities but been rather mercurial in his play. In six starts, he has thrown for 15 touchdowns and a league-high nine interceptions while averaging 257.8 yards per game.
Willis, acquired by the Packers ahead of the season via trade with the Tennessee Titans, is 2-0 as a starter and has appeared in four games in relief of Love. In those four appearances, Willis has looked more impressive than he had previously in two seasons with the Titans. He’s connected on 29 of 39 pass attempts for 380 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, whilst adding 137 yards and a touchdown rushing.
Regardless of Willis’ improved play, the Packers would very much prefer to have their franchise QB leading them into their first-place tilt versus the Lions. That’s still a possibility as Love is questionable for one more Friday. He played just once previously after receiving the designation this season, however.
The Packers (6-2) host the Lions (6-1) at 4:25 p.m. Sunday.