Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love didn’t practice on Wednesday, but coach Matt LaFleur once again said the door remains open to Love playing though his knee injury on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
“I’d say it’s pretty open,” LaFleur said Wednesday. “He’s doing a nice job. He’s spending a lot of time in the training room.”
Is LaFleur just baiting the Colts into thinking Love could play? LaFleur spoke for much of the press conference as if backup Malik Willis would start, and his caveat on Love’s potential availability is he still needs to be medically cleared to play.
“At the same time, he’s got to be cleared,” LaFleur said. We have to feel like he can protect himself. He’s got to be confident enough to go out there and do that. Until that happens, we’re not even going to think about that.”
LaFleur did say Love wouldn’t need to practice during the week to play against the Colts, so even missing practice on Thursday and Friday wouldn’t guarantee he’s out on Sunday.
Love sprained the MCL in his left knee during the Packers’ Week 1 loss. He was the team’s only player unable to participate in some capacity during Wednesday’s practice, the first of Week 2.
LaFleur said the Packers are working overtime — both before and after practice — to get Willis up to speed, in terms of getting comfortable with the plan and making sure they know they plays Willis likes.
Both Willis and Sean Clifford took first-team reps during Wednesday’s practice.
The Packers host the Colts in the home opener at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon from Green Bay. It’s possible we won’t know more about Love’s status until the final injury report is released Friday afternoon, or even the release of the inactive list 90 minutes before kickoff on Sunday.