Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is targeting a Week 5 return against the Los Angeles Rams from his knee injury, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter initially reported that Love would miss three to four weeks after suffering a sprained MCL on Sept. 6. Schefter noted that MCL injuries “typically” do not necessitate surgery.
The injury occurred in the final seconds of the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil. Love had gone 17-of-34 for 260 yards, two touchdowns and an interception before he was helped off the field.
.@RapSheet says that Jordan Love is targeting a Week 5 return from his MCL injury. pic.twitter.com/y7WM30qL80
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 15, 2024
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Sept. 8 that the Packers were “focused on preparing Malik Willis and Sean Clifford” ahead of the team’s home opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
The Packers acquired Willis from the Tennessee Titans in late August after Clifford struggled in the preseason. The two quarterbacks had made a combined total of 13 NFL appearances and three starts heading into the 2024 season.
Willis made his Packers debut when he stepped in as relief for Love in the final moments of the 2024 season opener in Brazil. The 2022 third-rounder threw an incompletion before taking a sack on the final play of the game.
Love started 17 games in his first campaign as the Packers’ starter, marking a 9-8 record while recording 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to lead the Packers into the divisional round.
His injury occurred just over one month after the Packers committed to him as their first franchise quarterback since the Aaron Rodgers era by signing him to a four-year, $220 million deal in July.
The Packers’ hopes of becoming a Super Bowl contender for the first time since 2010 hinge largely on Love, so the team will continue hoping the 25-year-old is able to return to the field as soon as possible.