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Rob Demovsky, ESPN workforce writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Nothing the Green Bay Packers did in practice Wednesday would indicate that Jordan Love has any expectations of playing games in Sunday’s NFC North matchup against the Detroit Lions.
That’s because, instead of riding a training motorcycle through the entire stretching stretch, Love sat out practice because of the groin shock he suffered in Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, it was what Love said at the next practice that raised the possibility that the Packers quarterback could play in games against the first-place Lions (6-1).
“I think it’s realistic,” Love said.
Love even said he thought he could play matches without any training at this event.
“Yes, obviously not practicing during the week is not the ideal format to try to play a game,” he said. “Like I said, things happen, if that’s the scenario, I know I’ll be fine. But it’s definitely not the ideal scenario to start a great week.”
Packers coach Matt LaFleur would simply say that they would “take it one day at a time and see where he is at the end of the week” and that Love could “potentially” play games without training.
“He’s moving better,” LaFleur said. “We’ll see, again, we’ll take it one day at a time. Certainly, yes, we’ll go further with that. I know he wants to play, but we’ll see where he is at the end of the week.”
LaFleur must feel confident that Love can protect itself.
“I think just being able to play, move in the pocket and not try to hurt myself more playing… I think that’s what he means by that,” Love said. “But for me, just being able to move around a little bit and be myself playing and not just try to get stuck in the pocket and not be able to move if I need to move.”
Love injured his groin in the starting order of the victory in Jacksonville, but played the remainder of the first half. But early in the third quarter, he limped to the sideline and gave Malik Willis the remainder of the game.
Until now he couldn’t tell, of course, Love wouldn’t rule out the possibility that the surprise was identical to his sprained left knee in the season opener, a surprise that kept him sidelined for two games.
The Packers have their time off after the Lions tournament, but that won’t affect the decision to play Love.
“I would definitely try to come back as quickly as possible even if the bye is next week,” Love said.
Willis, who led the Packers to a few wins in Weeks 2 and 3 in place of Love, led a winning shooting force to beat the Jaguars and would start again this time if Love no longer plays.
Three of the five starters in the Packers’ offensive sequence — left guard Rasheed Walker (knee), left guard Elgton Jenkins (gluteus) and shortstop Josh Myers (wrist) — did not apply Wednesday. Neither did running back Josh Jacobs, who suffered an ankle injury late in the tournament in Jacksonville.
“I’ll be fine come game time,” Jacobs said.
