Inexperienced Bay Packers’ Jordan Love runs a drill on the NFL soccer crew’s apply area Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Inexperienced Bay, Wis. Morry Gash, Related Press
Inexperienced Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur made it official, telling reporters Monday morning that Jordan Love will begin at quarterback within the crew’s preseason opener in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.
Love, the third-year professional out of Utah State, has been praised each by the media and his coaches for his work throughout coaching camp, and Friday’s first preseason recreation will permit him to show himself once more in a dwell state of affairs.
“I believe he’s way more in rhythm,” LaFleur mentioned Sunday about Love, per Packers Wire. “I believe there’s extra decisiveness. I believe you see it in his footwork, and he’s not getting what I name ‘caught’ on the high of the drop, the place each ft are hitting on the identical time and he’s simply sort of sitting there.
“It simply appears to be like extra rhythmical, simply appears to be like extra fluid and I believe it’s translated in his play. I believe he’s undoubtedly thrown the ball fairly precisely and has made fairly good choices.”
LaFleur left the door open for the Packers’ beginning quarterback — All-Professional Aaron Rodgers — to play within the preseason, in accordance with The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, because the coach mentioned he would consider whether or not Rodgers performs after the crew’s second preseason recreation.
Rodgers didn’t play within the preseason in any respect final 12 months, and LaFleur mentioned he may deal with the state of affairs with starters in another way this season after Inexperienced Bay got here out flat in its season opener in 2021, in accordance with Schneidman.
After the COVID-19 pandemic worn out the 2020 preseason throughout Love’s rookie 12 months, he performed in two of the Packers’ three preseason video games a 12 months in the past, although a shoulder damage brought about him to overlook a while.
Love began the Packers’ preseason opener final 12 months in opposition to the Houston Texans and completed the preseason with 271 passing yards, one landing and an interception whereas finishing 68.5% of his passes.
Love additionally began one recreation throughout the common season final 12 months when Rodgers was out with COVID-19, and the previous Aggie accomplished 19 of 34 passes for 190 yards, one landing and an interception in a 13-7 loss to Kansas Metropolis.
Schneidman spotlighted Love as one of many Packers’ gamers with probably the most to show throughout the preseason, partially as a result of this might be the primary time he will get to play in each preseason recreation.
“The Packers nonetheless don’t know what Love would as a constant NFL starter given his restricted motion within the preseason and common season, they usually nonetheless may not know if he faces largely backups this preseason,” Schneidman wrote.
“But if Rodgers stays wholesome this season, these subsequent three video games might be the final time common supervisor Brian Gutekunst has any substantial movie to base his determination off when deciding whether or not to train Love’s fifth-year possibility after this season.”