The Green Bay Packers are living every fan's preseason nightmare just a week into the new season.
Not only did Green Bay lose its riveting season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, but star quarterback Jordan Love went down with a knee injury in the game's dying seconds. Love is reportedly expected to miss three to six weeks with an MCL sprain.
That kind of injury is devastating for any team, but the Packers already had concerns before the season about their backup QB spot. They traded a seventh-rounder for Tennessee Titans backup Malik Willis just days before the season kicked off.
With Week 2's matchup with the Indianapolis Colts rapidly approaching, there has been speculation that the Packers could try to swing a trade, and they were also reportedly talking to former Pro Bowler Ryan Tannehill, who is currently a free agent.
However, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that head coach Matt LaFleur was preparing to start Willis against Indianapolis, with second-year man Sean Clifford set to be the interim backup.
“If Jordan is not cleared, then we'll start Malik, and Sean will be the backup," LaFleur said, per Rapoport.
Willis, 25, has started three games thus far as a professional. He went 1-2 in those games, all with the Tennessee Titans, but had just a 50.8% completion rate, no touchdowns, and three interceptions.
With so little time to prepare for Sunday's game, it makes sense that Willis would be the interim replacement plan. But if Love's absence is going to be longer, Green Bay may have to pursue a different avenue to find help at the game's most important position.
This is a team with legitimate Super Bowl dreams in 2024, and those don't come around every season in the NFL. Love will be back at some point, but the Packers have to make sure they're still in the playoff hunt when he does.
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