Jordan Love One of Sox Doubtful Doubtful or Out

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is questionable for Sunday’s NFC North matchup against the Detroit Lions.

While signs point to Love returning to the lineup after missing most of the second half of last week’s win over Jacksonville with a groin injury, the Packers have some sizable injury problems entering a game against the best team in the NFL.

Safety Evan Williams is out and center Josh Myers is questionable. They haven’t trained this week. Cornerback Jaire Alexander, who also did not practice this week, is questionable, as are cornerback Josh Jacobs and cornerback Corey Ballentine.

Last week, Love suffered a groin injury during the series opener. He left the game in the third quarter and did not return. This week, he did not practice on Wednesday, but had limited participation on Thursday and Friday.

The fact that he practiced again, rather than the team simply shutting him down with an eye on using him this week and a bye next week to get him healthy, would suggest Love will play against the Lions.

“I think we’ll do it like we always do. We’ll give him some playing time to see how he feels,” coach Matt LaFleur said after practice.

On Friday, reporters can only see the team’s extensive training inside the Don Hutson Center. Love went through the entire routine, which includes hopping on each foot and shuffling before finishing with a few three-quarter speed sprints with sudden stops. He jumped with strength and conditioning coordinator Aaron Hill.

From there, LaFleur piled the team near a set of doors leading to the Clarke Hinkle practice field.

The only players who didn’t go out were Myers, Alexander and Williams. They haven’t trained at all this week.

Myers, who he puts on his socks and shoes on Thursday with only his right hand due to a left wrist injury, is one of nine centers with at least 270 pass protection snaps who hasn’t allowed a sack this season, according to PFF.

“I’m taking it day by day,” Myers said Thursday. “It’s hard to say. We will do our best though, I can guarantee you.”

Alexander, who suffered a knee injury on the final defensive snap of last week’s win at Jacksonville, has allowed just one catch in each of the last three weeks for a total of three receptions for 31 yards, according to PFF.

Williams, who sat out last week with a hamstring problem, has 27 tackles, three passes defensed, an interception and a forced fumble. The pass defense suffered last week after going out after the 18th snap.

If Myers can’t play, Elgton Jenkins would likely move to center and first-round pick Jordan Morgan would move to guard for his first career start.

Could Myers practice with a protective club?

“We’ve practiced this way before,” LaFleur said.

For all the focus on romance this week, the status of Alexander and Williams is also critical. Jared Goff is the hottest quarterback in the NFL, and Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best receivers in the league.

Jacobs played through an ankle injury last week against Jacksonville. He didn’t practice Wednesday, but had limited participation Thursday and Friday, so he’s expected to play.

The sun returned to Green Bay on Friday, but the team practiced through showers on Thursday, and rain is forecast for Sunday’s game.

That Love practiced on a wet and potentially slippery field was a good sign that he will give it a shot in a huge divisional game rather than using this week and next week’s bye to get healthy.

“I think there’s some rain in the forecast, so it could definitely be game day conditions,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said Thursday. “I think he’s gotten that confidence to go out there and run and throw the ball and do all those things, that’s the biggest thing is just for him to mentally prepare to be able to play. “

Wednesday, Love said it would be “realistic” for him to play even with limited mobility.

“To me, what factors are you can protect yourself or not,” LaFleur said Thursday.

Defensive tackles Kenny Clark (finger/shoulder) and Devonte Wyatt (ankle), left guard Elgton Jenkins (glute) and left tackle Rasheed Walker (knee) did not practice Wednesday but did not receive an injury designation Friday and are ready to go .

Speaking before Friday’s practice in Detroit, coach Dan Campbell said defensive end Josh Paschal (illness) and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) will not play Sunday.

Rodriguez, who has started three games this season, has 23 tackles and two sacks. Paschal replaced Aidan Hutchinson in the starting lineup. Against the Vikings in Week 7, he played 87 percent of the snaps and had one sack.

Quarterback Jared Goff (ankle) and the four offensive linemen who did not practice Wednesday are all cleared for Sunday.

Final Packers injury report

Output: S Evan Williams (hamstring).

Doubtful: C Josh Myers (wrist).

Doubtful: CB Jaire Alexander (knee), CB Corey Ballentine (ankle), RB Josh Jacobs (ankle), QB Jordan Love (groin).

Final Lions injury report

Output: DE Josh Paschal (illness), LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle), DT Brodric Martin (knee).

Doubtful: DL Mekhi Wingo (ankle), RB Sione Vaki (knee).

More Green Bay Packers news

While talking about his injured wrist today, #Packers center Josh Myers put on his socks and shoes with one hand. Of course, he hopes to play anyway. https://t.co/CRRNBFA8tO

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) November 1, 2024