It is perhaps time for a quarterback move in Green Bay.
Widespread reports on Saturday appeared to substantiate the Packers fears that Jordan Love is facing a spell on the sidelines, after suffering a lower leg injury on Friday night.
The Packers kicked off their season in a thriller in Brazil, because the NFL made it’s first ever trip to the South American country.
Happening 34-29 was bad enough for Matt LeFleur’s team – widely considered Super Bowl contenders this season – but an injury to the starting quarterback doubled the frustration.
While an ankle injury was initially ruled out, after which in a while Saturday fears over a serious ACL injury put to at least one side.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport first reported the news that Love had suffered a sprained MCL, an injury that can keep him out of motion for between three and 6 weeks.
Love was wrapped up when attempting to steer a drive down the sector that would have won the sport for the Packers in the ultimate 30 seconds of the competition.
As he battled through the pocket, his leg twisted under the tacklers and pictures later emerged that appeared to point out his knee popping.
While serious injury now looks to have been ruled out, a strained MCL will still leave the Packers without their star man, who signed a brand new four-year $220m contract within the offseason after one season because the starter.
It leaves the franchise with a dilemma under center as Love was central to their plans.
The one back as much as the 25-year-old is Malik Willis, who took the ultimate snaps of the sport in Sao Paulo but has only been with the team a matter of days after arriving in a trade from the Tennessee Titans.
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Green Bay are back in motion next Sunday once they face the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field in Week 2 – but who might be starting quarterback stays to be seen.
The choice of trading for somebody could also be seen as an excessive amount of, definitely for an injury that will only keep Love out for 3 games.
Many observers felt the quarterback room was light even after trading for Willis and a veteran to beef up the resources was required.
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That now looks critical if the Packers need to keep alive their hopes in a competitive NFC North where Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota might all have differing hopes of a post season run.
Sean Clifford is thought to the team and was named to the practise squad ahead of the Week 1 opener, but that’s it on the depth chart.
Essentially the most obvious option open to Green Bay would seem like Ryan Tannehill, who’s a free agent after leaving the Titans at the top of last season.
Not only does he have 12 years of experience within the league, but he’s well-known to Willis from their time together in Tennessee, where they spent the last two seasons together.
Tannehill can be an able deputy for Love within the short-term, and an experienced backup within the medium term – an important component for a team chasing a Super Bowl place.
The Packers were beaten within the Divisional Round last season by the San Francisco 49ers, and have been tipped by many to go not less than one higher this 12 months.
Nonetheless, in the event that they are without Love for any period of time, with no quality alternative they is perhaps playing catchup before the season has barely begun.
Free agents Desmond Ridder and Trevor Siemian even have starting experience, while PJ Walker, CJ Beathard and Nate Sudfeld are also with no team.
Tannehill would help now, and would help a Super Bowl push.
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