NFL Trade Rumors: Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love Might Play Week 3

The Green Bay Packers may not be without their franchise passer for much longer. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, there is "a chance" that quarterback Jordan Love could play in Week 3 despite the knee injury he suffered in Week 1's 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Despite what was projected to be a 3-to-4 week absence due to his knee injury, there is a chance that Packers QB Jordan Love can make it back in time to start Sunday at the Titans. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays this week,” said one source. “It’s definitely day-by-day like… pic.twitter.com/O1sJ8M0Zmk
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 19, 2024

Love was expected to miss 3-4 weeks after violently twisting his knee in the waning minutes of the September 6th defeat. He has since returned to practice and is apparently making enough progress that a return on Sunday isn't out of the question.

Given the Packers face the 0-2 Tennessee Titans in Week 3, they may be better off taking their time with Love. The Packers demonstrated in Week 2 that they can get by against lesser teams, beating the Indianapolis Colts 16-10 thanks in large part to a staggering 261 rushing yards on 53 attempts. A similar gameplan could serve them well against the Titans. For all their faults, the Titans have fielded a strong pass defense through two weeks, allowing a minuscule 3.6 net yards per attempt. If the Packers are going to lean heavily on the run game yet again, they may as well rest Love another week and let backup Malik Willis make some plays with his legs.

The Packers have an all-important matchup against their NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, in Week 4 at Lambeau Field. That game needs to be their priority. The Vikings currently lead the division with a 2-0 record and even secured a surprising win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. If the Packers want to be Super Bowl contenders, they'll need to take care of business inside the division, particularly at home.

It's only natural for Love to want to get back on the field as soon as possible: Availability is the best ability for franchise quarterbacks. But it's a long season, and the Packers struck gold with their schedule. Love should prioritize his health, particularly since the Packers have a real chance to go 2-0 in his absence. He should focus his attention on the Vikings.