Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love's recovery from a sprained MCL is going better than originally anticipated.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Love has a "chance" to play on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
One source told Schefter they "wouldn't be surprised" if Love is back this week, but it's probably "50-50 at best" as things stand right now.
Love suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee near the end of his team's 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 after a tackle from Jalen Carter. He initially faced a three-to-six week timetable for his return.
Love missed the Packers' 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 15. Before that game, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Love was targeting a return in Week 5 (Sunday, Oct. 6) at the Los Angeles Rams.
However, he returned to practice on Wednesday, Sept. 18 in a limited capacity and even expressed hope that he could play Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans.
Love excelled in his first year as the Packers' starter, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns (11 interceptions). He guided the Pack to the NFC's No. 7 playoff seed and a monumental upset win over the second-seeded Dallas Cowboys, 48-32.
Love then nearly led the Packers to an upset victory against the No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers before they fell 24-21.
Ultimately, Green Bay is in great hands with the 25-year-old Love, who is in town for the long haul after inking a four-year, $220 million extension.
Without him, though, the Pack have reinforcements courtesy of Malik Willis, who helped lead Green Bay to victory against Indianapolis. Sean Clifford is also on the practice squad and would serve as Willis' backup if Love is unable to play.
Love's Recovery and Potential Return
While Love is making progress, Willis is prepared to face his former team on Sunday if he is asked to do so. Willis was unceremoniously traded to the Packers this offseason after two seasons in Nashville.
"When I got traded, it was a little bit emotional," Willis recently said of the situation. "I didn't know how to feel. But with the season coming, I just had to flush all that. We can worry about it later, and just understand this season doesn't wait on anybody. ... This is a results-based business. That's just what it is. I just continued to try to work until I got another opportunity and it just so happened it came (last) week."
Packers Injury Report
How will the injury situation affect Sunday’s showdown?
Here’s an in-depth breakdown of the Packers’ final injury report ahead of Week 3:
QB Jordan Love (knee)
The Packers listed him questionable again, but Love’s chances to play Sunday feel considerably greater this week compared to last. He practiced in a limited capacity all three days this week, and coach Matt LaFleur suggested the Packers are working through the final stages of getting him cleared to play. Keep an eye out for a practice squad elevation Saturday — the Packers would need to elevate Sean Clifford by Saturday to have him available for Sunday. At this point, it feels like more likely that Love will play. Malik Willis would start if the Packers decide to hold out Love for another week.
CB Carrington Valentine (ankle)
The second-year cornerback didn’t practice all week. Valentine out-snapped Eric Stokes last week, but an ankle injury will likely force him out for at least this week. Expect Stokes to play most of the perimeter cornerback snaps opposite Jaire Alexander, with Corey Ballentine now the top backup. Barring a big recovery before Sunday, the Packers will hope to get Valentine back for next week against Sam Darnold and the Vikings.
OL Jordan Morgan (shoulder)
LaFleur said Morgan re-injured the same shoulder he hurt during training camp, although his recovery timeline isn’t clear this time around. The Packers’ first-round pick exited last Sunday’s win and didn’t return, and he didn’t practice this week. Morgan had been rotating in and out with Sean Rhyan at right guard, so Rhyan might be a full-time player Sunday against a good Titans front. Rookie Jacob Monk will now be a top backup on the inside.
The following players have no status designation and will be available to play on Sunday vs. the Titans: DL Kenny Clark, DE Kingsley Enagbare, RB Josh Jacobs, OL Elgton Jenkins, TE Tucker Kraft, C Josh Myers, WR Jayden Reed, OL Zach Tom and OT Rasheed Walker.
The Titans listed running back Tyjae Spears as questionable with an ankle injury. Spears is the only player with a status designation for the Titans entering Sunday.
Willis’s Impact
Love's rapid recovery from his MCL sprain has made him playing this weekend against the Tennessee Titans a possibility. While he was expected to miss multiple weeks, Love will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday.
"He's doing everything in his power," LaFleur said on Love's Week 3 status. "We'll give it to game time."
Love practiced Wednesday for the first time since suffering the injury during Green Bay's season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was limited that day as well as during Thursday and Friday's practices.
"There's a lot of boxes (to check)," Love said of the recovery process. "What it feels like to take those drops, be in the live fire … the trainers are doing a good job of monitoring me and seeing how I'm doing and how I'm reacting to every play. They'll be the ones to clear me when the time comes."
Love said that, while being exclusively a pocket passer on Sunday isn't realistic, he acknowledged that he doesn't need to be able to do everything he can normally do in order to play.
Love was not medically cleared to play in Green Bay's home opener this past Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. With Love looking on, backup Malik Willis went 12 of 14 that included a touchdown pass in Green Bay's 16-10 win. Willis was aided by a Packers rushing attack that gorged the Colts for 261 yards on 53 carries.
Love was initially expected to be out anywhere from 2-6 weeks, so his practice participation this week would suggest his return may be on the earlier side of said timetable. Green Bay (1-1) travels to face Tennessee (0-2) -- Willis' former team -- before hosting NFC North division rival Minnesota (1-1) in Week 4. Green Bay will head to the West Coast to face the Rams (0-2) in Week 5 before returning home to host Arizona (1-1) and Houston (2-0) in consecutive weeks.
Looking Ahead
Will it be a return to Love or a chance for Willis to best his old squad?
Green Bay (1-1) kicks off against Tennessee (0-2) at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
