The Green Bay Packers are planning to spend at least the week without starting quarterback Jordan Love on the field as he undergoes a procedure on his left thumb, but they don’t seem to have any doubts about his status for Week 1.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced Tuesday that Love will have surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb that he damaged when his thumb struck a helmet during last Saturday’s preseason loss to the New York Jets.
When asked about how Love had looked early on in training camp, though, Gutekunst left little room for doubt about whether his starting quarterback would play against the Detroit Lions in their 2025 regular-season opener at Lambeau Field on September 7.
“I think as he gets back next week, we’ll assess where he’s at,” Gutekunst said Tuesday. “He’ll be back at practice next week. How much he can do leading into that Seattle game, we’ll see. He’ll be day-to-day a little bit. You never want any of these guys to be out because you want to be working as a team. They all need the work obviously. But more importantly, he’ll be ready for Week 1, and that’s the most important thing.”
Jordan Love’s Injury Means Little, if Packers Are Right
At this stage, Love’s thumb injury sounds minor. Gutekunst described his surgery as a “little procedure,” and while it would be easier if Love didn’t need surgery at all, it is at least encouraging that he won’t need a procedure on his throwing hand or lower body.
The Packers have also done their part in solidifying the impression that Love’s injury is not that serious, going as far as to say that they expect him back at practice next week.
As long as they are right about that, then the Packers should have little reason to worry. Love will still have another week of camp to get right with the rest of the starters, and they are roughly one month from kickoff against the Lions, giving them a nice cushion.
Realistically, Love could miss multiple weeks of practice and still probably feel ready for the start of the regular season. The Packers incubated him in Matt LaFleur’s offense for three seasons before turning to him as their starting quarterback, and have continually praised him for his veteran mindset in terms of his preparation and comprehension.
If the Packers’ confidence in Love’s availability in Week 1 turns from “he’ll be ready” to “we’ll see” in the weeks ahead, though, that’s when it might be time to start panicking.
Malik Willis Will Take Over as Packers’ Temporary QB1
While Love recovers, the Packers will turn to backup quarterback Malik Willis as their temporary starting quarterback for the purposes of camp practices and the preseason.
For now, that simply means Willis will undoubtedly start for the Packers in their second preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, but it could also present him with an opportunity to showcase his abilities against a first-team defense — if the Colts decide to play their defense starters. That may serve him well as a 2026 free agent.
“Just excited for the opportunity and excited to go out and have some fun, play this game,” Willis said Tuesday. “I mean, we’re all looking for an opportunity and looked at to be ready for each opportunity that we get, especially when it comes to going out and just running the offense. I feel like that’s what’s most important.
“It’s not about going out and doing anything crazy, it’s about making sure we stay on schedule and we continue to do what we can to make plays.”
