An injury to $220 million player Jordan Love has left the Green Bay Packers with a dilemma they can solve with a quick quarterback move
Maybe it’s time for him to take on the quarterback role in Green Bay.
Widespread reports on Saturday confirmed the Packers’ fears that running back Jordan Love might have to stay off the field after suffering a foot injury Friday night.
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The Packers started their season with a thrilling match in Brazil. The NFL made its first-ever trip to the South American country.
Losing 34-29 was bad enough to Matt LeFleur’s team — which is widely regarded as Super Bowl They were considered top contenders this season — but an injury to their starting quarterback doubled the disappointment.
Although an ankle injury was initially ruled out, a serious ACL injury was suspected later on Saturday.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport first reported that Love suffered a sprained MCL, an injury that will keep him out of the field for three to six weeks.
Love got tripped up while he was attempting to advance down the field to give the Packers the win in the final 30 seconds of the contest.
As he tried to escape the pocket, his leg twisted underneath tacklers and footage later emerged showing his knee bouncing.
Though a serious injury is now ruled out, an MCL injury would cost the Packers their star player, who signed a new, four-year, $220 million contract in the offseason after playing one season as a starter.
This has created a dilemma for the franchise, as Love was the centrepiece of their plans.
The 25-year-old’s only backup is Malik Willis, who took the final snaps of the game. Sao Paulo But he has only been with the team for a few days since coming over via trade Tennessee Titans,
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Green Bay will be back in action next Sunday when they face Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field in Week 2 — but who the quarterback will be remains to be seen.
The option to trade for someone may be considered too much, especially with an injury that could keep Love out for only three games.
Many observers believed that even after trading for Willis, the quarterback spot was still tight and a veteran was needed to bolster resources.
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That appears to be crucial now if the Packers are to keep their hopes alive in a competitive NFC North, where Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota could all have varying hopes of a postseason run.
Sean Clifford is known to the team and was signed to the practice squad prior to the Week 1 opener, but his name is limited on the depth chart.
The most obvious option for Green Bay would be Ryan Tannehill, who is a free agent after leaving the Titans at the end of last season.
Not only does he have 12 years of experience in the league, but Willis knows him well from their time together in Tennessee, where they spent the last two seasons together.
Tannehill would be a capable deputy to Love in the short term, and a veteran backup in the medium term — a vital component for a team trying to make it to the Super Bowl.
The Packers were defeated in the divisional round last season San Francisco 49ersAnd at least one is expected to do better this year by many.
However, if they remain without Love for any longer, without a quality replacement, they may have to try to catch up before the season even starts.
Free agents Desmond Ridder and Trevor Siemian also have starting experience, while P.J. Walker, C.J. Beathard and Nate Sudfeld are also without a team.
Tannehill will help now, and help push them to the Super Bowl.
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