Packers’ offense leans more than ever on Love
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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay’s Jordan Love already has established himself as one of the game’s elite quarterbacks as far as Packers coach Matt LaFleur is concerned.
Love will certainly get a chance to prove that this season.
The unsettled nature of Green Bay’s rushing attack without three-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs means the Packers may have to depend on their passing game more than usual. The Packers open the season Sunday at Minnesota.
“No matter who’s out there, I want to be the best,” Love said. “I want to go out there and execute my job at a high level on every play.”
Love hasn’t yet received a Pro Bowl invitation despite leading the Packers to playoff berths in each of his three seasons as a starting quarterback. When he was asked about the next step Love must take to be considered among the league’s best quarterbacks, LaFleur contended that the 27-year-old already has entered that class.
“I get so confused by that question every time, because I think he’s an elite player,” LaFleur said Wednesday. “So I don’t know. I’ll let you guys figure that out, what the next step is.”
LaFleur believes Love might get more recognition if the Packers made a longer postseason run.
Green Bay hasn’t advanced beyond the divisional round of the playoffs in Love’s three seasons as a starter and has lost in the wild-card round each of the past two years.
Love wasn’t to blame for the Packers’ five-game skid that ended their 2025 season.
A helmet-to-helmet hit from Chicago’s Austin Booker knocked Love out of an overtime loss to the Bears on Dec. 20 and prevented him from playing in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens the next week. Green Bay rested Love and its other starters for its regular-season finale at Minnesota.
Love returned for the playoffs and threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, but the Packers fell 31-27 at Chicago after allowing 25 points in the fourth quarter.
The Packers may need to lean on Love more this season, particularly as long as Jacobs is unable to play or practice because of his placement on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Love’s teammates believe he can handle that extra responsibility.
“Since I’ve been playing with him, he’s never flinched,” wide receiver Jayden Reed said. “That’s the biggest thing for him that I see. He’s the same guy out there every play, through adversity, through great plays.”
Love should benefit from the fact that three of his top playmakers finally are all healthy at the same time.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love motions pre-snap in an exhibition game against the Broncos on Aug. 21 in Denver. (AP photo)