Jordan Love harm: What this implies for Packers, record of potential replacements as QB anticipated to overlook time

The Green Bay Packers‘ hopes of contending in 2024 have taken successful. Within the season-opening, 34-29 loss towards the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, quarterback Jordan Love suffered a sprained MCL. The excellent news is that Love’s preliminary timetable to return is 3 to six weeks, per NFL Media, and there is optimism he might return sooner reasonably than later.

Whereas Love was making an attempt to steer a game-winning drive with lower than 30 seconds remaining within the contest, the $220-million quarterback was twisted round as he tried to battle by defenders within the pocket earlier than dumping the ball off to operating again Josh Jacobs. Love was in clear misery after hitting the bottom, however finally limped off the sphere with trainers. 

When requested about Love’s standing following the sport, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur merely responded with, “I do not know.” Earlier than exiting the competition, Love accomplished 17 of 34 passes for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

The younger Packers are seen as a possible NFC contender this season. Following a 9-8 marketing campaign in 2023, which led to a playoff berth and eventual postseason victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers look like a workforce able to take that subsequent step with a younger quarterback that threw 23 touchdowns in comparison with simply three interceptions within the ultimate 10 video games of his first full season as starter. That one season netted Love a four-year extension worth $220 million in July. 

In line with Stephen Oh, SportsLine’s principal information engineer, the Packers’ long-term outlook will not take an excessive amount of of successful. He projected the Packers for 9.7 wins and a 63.3% likelihood to make the playoffs with a wholesome Love and 9.2 wins and a 55.0% likelihood to make the playoffs with Love sidelined three video games. Inexperienced Bay has a seemingly favorable schedule developing, as its subsequent three video games are residence towards the Indianapolis Colts, on the Tennessee Titans and residential vs. the Vikings.

Love’s backup is 25-year-old Malik Willis, who Inexperienced Bay traded a seventh-round decide to the Tennessee Titans for only a couple weeks in the past. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst selected him over Sean Clifford (who’s now on the follow squad) and Michael Pratt, so might they simply move forward with the former third-round pick out of Liberty?

Willis does not have a lot NFL expertise, as he is began simply three video games, profitable certainly one of them, and has thrown for a complete of 350 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Nonetheless, Willis has made clear strides in his improvement over the previous few seasons, and is an intriguing dual-threat expertise. 

If the Packers do determine to search out Love’s substitute exterior of the constructing, listed here are just a few choices:

Talking of former Titans quarterbacks, not solely is Tannehill the most effective accessible free-agent quarterback, however he is aware of a bit bit about coming in and saving a workforce’s season. Again in 2019, Tannehill changed Marcus Mariota underneath heart and helped Tennessee win seven of its ultimate 10 video games. The Titans earned a playoff berth because of their robust end, then defeated Tom Brady and the New England Patriots within the wild-card spherical, and the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens on their residence area earlier than falling to the Kansas City Chiefs within the AFC Championship recreation. It earned Tannehill NFL Comeback Participant of the 12 months honors. 

Tannehill retained the job of beginning quarterback for the Titans for the subsequent 4 seasons, going 39-24 because the starter with two AFC South titles. After being sidelined resulting from an ankle harm in 2023, he was changed by rookie Will Levis.

The 36-year-old Tannehill mentioned this offseason he was in search of the proper alternative. Whereas he should are available in and shortly study the offense, alternatives do not get significantly better than this.

The Packers would wish to commerce for Winston, who’s at present slated because the Cleveland Browns‘ backup behind Deshaun Watson, however the former No. 1 total decide could be a superb substitute for Love. Not solely is the 30-year-old veteran a pure chief whom the younger Packers might rally round, however he is one of many higher backup quarterbacks within the NFL who can nonetheless sling it.

Winston is known (notorious?) for the first-ever “30 and 30” season in 2019, the place he threw 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions whereas main the league in passing yards with 5,109 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After being changed by Brady, Winston signed with the rival New Orleans Saints and threw for 20 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and gained six of 10 begins in 4 whole seasons. 

The Western Kentucky product discovered himself on the skin trying in with the Patriots QB room, and he’s now on the follow squad of the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Packers followers know a bit one thing about Zappe, as his first NFL motion got here at Lambeau Subject. When Brian Hoyer went down with a concussion in a Week 4 matchup vs. the Packers again in 2022, the rookie Zappe got here in and accomplished 10 of 15 passes for 99 yards and one landing, whereas taking Aaron Rodgers to extra time. 

In all, Zappe is 4-4 as a starter and has thrown for two,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In the event you’re in search of a youthful participant with a giant arm who as soon as caught the attention of Invoice Belichick, you will have it in Zappe.