Tag: Malik Willis

The best plays from Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis through two starts in place of Jordan Love have come on third down, the money down in the NFL.

After a terrific opening performance against the Indianapolis Colts, which featured a third-down touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks and five other conversion on third down, Willis was once again productive on third down in his return to Tennessee on Sunday.

The Packers built a 20-7 lead in the first half of the 30-14 win over the Titans. Willis’ heroics on third down were a big reason why.

On the opening drive, Willis checked into a pass and hit Christian Watson on a slot fade for 30 yards to convert 3rd-and-6, setting up his own 5-yard touchdown run a few plays later.

A drive later, Willis got it done with his legs. He converted 3rd-and-2 with a 20-yard scramble and 3rd-and-7 with an 8-yard run, setting up a field goal.

Late in the first half, coach Matt LaFleur trusted Willis in a couple of big spots and it paid off handsomely. On 3rd-and-14 from his own 21-yard line, Willis hung in the pocket and delivered a strike to Romeo Doubs for 18 yards. On 3rd-and-18 from midfield following a penalty, Willis once again stood tall in the pocket and hit Watson downfield and between defenders for a 37-yard completion.

LaFleur could have been content going into half time with a 17-7 advantage. Instead, he kept his foot on the gas, trusted his young quarterback and got three more points out of a drive that required two long third down conversions. On back-to-back third-down plays, Willis showed he could play from pocket and deliver a strike on two staple concepts in LaFleur’s passing game.

The Packers admittedly got more conservative in the second half, especially after Willis’ swing pass to Emanuel Wilson produced a 27-7 lead midway through the third quarter. Content to “take the air out of the ball” and manage the clock, LaFleur and the Packers leaned on the run and ended up punting on three straight possessions.

The final stat line for Willis still looked excellent. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown, and he rushed for a team-high 73 yards and another score. In terms of backup performances at the NFL level, Willis has been close to perfect in two games.

The Packers traded a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft to the Titans to get Willis, who lost out on the backup job behind Will Levis — who turned the ball over three times on Sunday — during training camp. There will be no buyers remorse from Packers quarterback Brian Gutekunst. Willis has back-to-back games with a passer rating over 120.0 and the Packers are 2-0 since Love’s injury, salvaging what could have been an ugly start to the season considering the disappointing Week 1 result and Love’s recovery timeline.

Getting it done on third down is one of the hardest parts of playing quarterback in the NFL. Using both his legs and his arm, Willis has helped the Packers move the sticks and score enough points to beat a pair of AFC South foes, including the team that gave up on him last month.

Willis said this week he didn’t care about revenge. He showed revenge is best served without intent, and on third down.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis marched his team 70 yards in six plays and finished off the scoring drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to open Sunday’s showdown with the Tennessee Titans, his former team.

Willis hit completions of 30 yards to Jayden Reed on the first play from scrimmage and 30 yards to Christian Watson on 3rd-and-6 to get the Packers into the red zone, and he kept the ball on a read option and powered into the end zone for the opening score.

Here’s the Willis touchdown:

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1837902001247563958

The Packers used a clever misdirection play to spring Reed open for an explosive play on the game’s opening play. Later, Willis hit Watson downfield on a slot fade on third down.

Here’s the Watson catch:

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1837901567992750583

The drive took just over two and a half minutes.

Willis is starting in place of Jordan Love, who is missing his second game with a left knee injury.

The Titans traded Willis — a 2022 third-round pick — to the Packers at final cuts.

Revenge is the last thing on the mind of Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis heading Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans traded Willis to the Packers on the eve of final cuts after he could not secure the backup quarterback job behind Will Levis. Despite being dealt in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick, Willis has no hard feelings toward the team that drafted him.

“I could care less, bro. I think I got paid the whole time I was there,” said Willis. “I’m more than blessed for the opportunity they’ve given me. They brought me into this league, whether those guys are there or not. That organization, they took a shot on me. Miss Amy (Adams Strunk), they did a great job by me, for all I’m concerned.”

Tennessee used a third-round pick on Willis in 2022 following a productive career at Liberty University, where he showcased promising upside as a dual-threat quarterback. Over two seasons, Willis appeared in 11 games for the Titans, including three starts, completing 35 of 66 passes for 350 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Following a rocky start to his NFL career, Willis completed 20 of 27 passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception during the 2024 preseason. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst saw enough improvement out of Willis to feel comfortable with making him the backup behind Jordan Love.

“Malik is a guy that, in his third year, he’s really shown a lot of progression, particularly in this past preseason,” Gutekunst said. “Just an opportunity for us to add a guy who I think can not only make plays with his arm but with his legs as well. Excited to get him.”

Willis caught on quickly in Green Bay, serving as the team’s backup for the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles despite having less than two weeks to learn the playbook. He was then put into the difficult situation of trying to mount a miracle comeback on the final two plays after Love exited the game with an injury. His first attempt was incomplete, and the next play ended with him getting sacked.

When Love was ruled doubtful for the Week 2 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, Willis got his first start since his rookie season. He enjoyed an efficient day through the air, completing 86 percent of his throws for 122 yards, and even recorded his first career passing touchdown. Willis also flashed his scrambling ability, rushing six times for 41 yards. Opting for Willis turned out to be the right call, as he helped lead the Packers to their first win of the season.

“I don’t think you guys can appreciate or even comprehend the task that Malik Willis…this guy got here three weeks ago,” coach Matt LaFleur said after the win. “For him to go out there and command our offense, we still had a lot of long calls, we had shifts, motions, a ton of different run schemes. There was a lot put on his plate. And for him to go out there and do what he did today, I think that speaks volumes of who he is as a person and the work he put in. I’m just super proud of him.”

Just three years into his NFL career, Willis has already overcome a ton of adversity, doing so with true professionalism.

Once Love returns from injury, Willis knows he will have to go back to holding a clipboard. That could be sooner than expected since Love returned to the practice field on Wednesday as a limited participant and is considered “day-to-day.”

As far as what that means for Willis, he plans to keep doing what he’s been doing. Which is maintaining focus and preparing in case his number is called again.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Willis said of Love’s chances to play against the Titans. “I just have to stay ready and focus on what I can control. The rest I will leave up to him (Love) and Coach LaFleur.

“I just continue to try and work hard and take advantage of every opportunity I can get.”