The Green Bay Packers had massive expectations this year after a surprising run to the playoffs last season. That run was highlighted by an upset win against the Dallas Cowboys during Wild Card weekend.
The expectations were high this year in large part because of the emergence of Jordan Love as the quarterback. However, Love was immediately injured during Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, near the end of the game, and suffered an MCL sprain.
The initial injury to Love looked like it was going to be much worse and the fact it was only a sprain is massive and means both Love and the Packers dodged a major bullet. The injury has also not forced the Packers to place Love on IR.
Love was initially ruled as questionable for Week 2’s game, but was downgraded to doubtful, which coincided with the Packers elevating Sean Clifford to the practice squad and the de facto backup to Malik Willis.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the initial timetable for Love to return was three to six weeks with “some early optimism he could return sooner than later, pending a second opinion.”
It looks like he will at least be available in Week 4, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. She said that Love returning in Week 3 is considered a “long shot” and the most optimistic timeline would have him back in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings “if there are no snags” in his recovery.
The Packers and Love dodged a bullet with the injury not being nearly as serious as it initially looked and if Green Bay can get him back soon, then they should not lose that much ground on their quest to return to the playoffs.
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