The Green Bay Packers could have their starting quarterback back sooner than expected.
Jordan Love, who injured his knee on Sept. 6 during a season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, practiced Wednesday for the first time since the injury. He could return to the lineup Sunday when Green Bay travels to Nashville to face the winless Tennessee Titans.
However, if Love is out again, the Packers would turn to backup Malik Willis against the franchise that drafted him in the third round in 2022. After being traded to the Packers last month, Willis engineered last week’s 16-game win over the Indianapolis Colts, going 12-of-14 for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Willis also showed off his mobility, rushing for 41 yards on six carries and finishing with a 126.8 passer rating, well above his career mark of 49.4 entering the game.
“Things have happened,” Willis said of his new organization. “Now I’m here and I’m grateful for coach Matt LaFleur, the general manager, and everyone that’s a part of it.”
Willis played 11 games over two seasons for Tennessee, completing 35 of 66 passes for 350 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. His time with the franchise ended when coach Mike Vrabel named then-rookie Will Levis the starter last October.
Levis showed more than enough over the long haul, despite the Titans missing the playoffs, to earn the No. 1 seed this year. Now, with his new team, Willis could be the quarterback tasked with leading the Packers to a 2-1 record.
“I didn’t wake up thinking I was going to be traded,” he said after being traded on Aug. 27. “So it definitely caught me off guard… It’s time to go.”
After throwing a game-changing interception in Tennessee’s season-opening loss to Chicago, Levis played better last week in a second straight 24-17 loss, this time to the New York Jets. He completed 19 of 28 passes for 192 yards with a touchdown but also had two turnovers.
One was an ill-conceived lateral pass by Tony Pollard that turned a sack into a fumble that cost the Titans a chance to take a two-point lead in the second quarter. The other was an interception that turned into a game-tying touchdown just before halftime.
“I’m really happy with the way he played for the most part,” Callahan said of Levis. “I think Will improved a lot from Week 1 to Week 2.”
Levis and Tennessee expect DeAndre Hopkins to be more involved in the passing game. Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro, caught 75 passes for 1,057 yards last year, his seventh 1,000-yard season, but has been limited to two receptions for 17 yards in his first two games this year.
Tennessee had just one player miss Wednesday’s practice due to injury: running back Tyjae Spears (ankle). Green Bay was without four players Wednesday: guard Elgton Jenkins (illness/glute), tackle Jordan Morgan (shoulder), wide receiver Jayden Reed (calf), and defensive back Carrington Valentine (ankle).
The Titans have an 8-6 advantage in the all-time series with Green Bay, including a 3-0 mark in Nashville.
Hold on to your seats, NFL fans! We might be in for a thrilling showdown this Sunday!
