Packers turn to Malik Willis; no IR stint for QB Jordan Love

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Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis was elevated to the starting role until Jordan Love returns from a knee injury.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said the Packers are going “day to day” with the evaluation of Love and won’t place him on injured reserve, an indication he could be back sooner than the four-week hiatus required by short-term IR.

“First of all, he’s got to get cleared. Until he gets cleared, those conversations don’t exist,” LaFleur said. “We will never put him in a position to mortgage the short-term for the future.”

Love was diagnosed with an MCL sprain. Love sustained the injury to his knee and was helped off the field with six seconds left in Friday night’s season-opening 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Willis was acquired from the Tennessee Titans last month and was the No. 2 quarterback behind Love entering Week 1. Sean Clifford steps into the backup role for Week 2 against the Colts, LaFleur said.

LaFleur said he couldn’t put a percentage on how much of the playbook Willis should be expected to know.

“He’ll know 100 percent of the game plan,” LaFleur said.

The 25-year-old Willis has made three career starts in 12 games. He rushed for 101 yards on 11 carries in the 2024 preseason with the Titans.

“You’ve got to play to your players’ strengths,” LaFleur said. “Whether that’s moving launch points, straight dropback, whatever it may be — play-actions — we’ll come up with whatever we feel like is going to give us the best opportunity to move the football.”

In his first two NFL seasons, Willis completed 35 of 66 passes for 350 yards with three interceptions. He also rushed 32 times for 144 yards (4.5 yards per attempt) with one touchdown.

–Field Level Media