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Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers’ offense finished the 2023 season on an impressive roll, scoring 27 or more points in six of their last nine games. After Love threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns in a close 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, it seemed like the Packers were picking up right where they had left off.
However, the Packers’ hopes for a strong second year with Love took a hit when he appeared to suffer a serious knee injury in Week 1. Fortunately, doctors found no structural damage to his knee, and they estimated that his recovery would only take a few weeks instead of months.
Though there were rumors about Love returning for Week 3, he ultimately didn’t play. But now, it looks like he’s set to come back in Week 4. So, what’s the latest on his injury, and can we expect to see him on the field this week?
Will Jordan Love Play This Week? Injury Update
The good news is that Jordan Love will be back in the Packers’ lineup for Week 4. He’s officially active for the game against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday. His return fits well within the 3-4 week recovery timeline that was suggested after his knee injury.
Love was limited in all three practices this week, but it seems he did enough to convince head coach Matt LaFleur to choose him for the important divisional game against the Vikings.
Since Love has been out for the last two weeks, there isn’t much mystery about who will step in if he can’t play on Sunday. Malik Willis will take over as the starting quarterback in Week 4 if the team decides to play it safe with Love’s recovery.
Willis has surprised many with his performance while filling in for Love this season. Initially considered one of the less capable backup quarterbacks in the league, he has shown he can hold his own. While he hasn’t been the sole reason for the Packers’ success—amassing 324 passing yards in two starts—he has led the team to victories in both games.
If Willis remains the starter for a third game, expect the Packers to rely heavily on their running game again. They’ll likely lean on Josh Jacobs and hope that Willis can manage the game well enough to secure a win.
If you have Jordan Love on your fantasy team, you probably also have another solid quarterback option available. It might be wiser to stick with your backup even if Love plays.
First off, he probably won’t be at 100% if he does take the field. While his knee may not significantly affect his throwing ability, it could impact how long he stays in the game. NFL insider Diana Russini has mentioned that Willis might come in for a few snaps, even if he’s not starting. If Willis ends up taking red zone snaps and snags a touchdown, it could be a huge blow for fantasy managers relying on Love.
Additionally, this is a tough matchup for Love to come back to. Brian Flores has been crafting a formidable defense in Minnesota this season, managing to shut down quarterbacks like Brock Purdy and C.J. Stroud recently. They’re shaping up to be one of the league’s top defensive teams.
Given all these factors, it’s likely that Love could face a tough challenge in his return, making him a risky play for fantasy managers. It might be best to keep him on the bench, no matter his availability.