Final injury reports for both the Packers and Colts have been released, and the Packers are listing quarterback Jordan Love as questionable.
During the Packers’ season opener last Friday in Brazil, Love exited the game late in the fourth quarter with what was later diagnosed as an MCL sprain. Depending on the report, the timeline for Love’s potential absence varied, but the general consensus seemed to be in the 3-6 week range.
However, internally, the Packers have remained much more optimistic about Love’s potential availability on Sunday against the Colts. In a sit down conversation with Larry McCarren on the team’s site on Thursday, head coach Matt LaFleur said Love’s injury was more day-to-day at this point.
Not to state the obvious, but the dynamic of this game with Love under center on Sunday drastically changes compared to if Malik Willis is starting.
The Colts already question mark filled secondary now has even more unknowns heading into Week 2 with JuJu Brents being placed on injured reserve and Julian Blackmon being ruled out. The depth of this group is already going to be put to the test.
In addition to having Love, the Packers boast a very talented and deep wide receiver room, where five players routinely not only see playing time but targets as well. Green Bay also has two dynamic tight ends as well.
When it comes to matchups in this game, there may not be a bigger advantage that one team has over the other than the Packers receivers against the Colts collective secondary unit, and that discrepancy only gets magnified if Love is the quarterback–not only because of his talent level, but the entire playbook is then open for LaFleur to throw at this Colts’ defense.
If Love cannot play, as mentioned, Willis will get the start against the Colts.