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The Packers’ quest to take over the NFC North lead on Saturday night needed to continue without Jordan Love.
Green Bay’s star quarterback exited with a concussion in the second quarter and was officially ruled out after halftime following a crushing hit from the Bears’ Austin Booker.
With the Packers at their own 17-yard line, Love dropped back to pass on first down and was sacked by Booker, who drew a flag for roughing the passer on the snap.
Love appeared to lower his head while trying to escape the pocket, and Booker’s helmet made contact with it.
After being examined by trainers, Love walked back toward the locker room, and he was ruled out before the third quarter began.
That meant Malik Willis — the former third-round pick by the Titans in his second season as the Packers’ backup quarterback — took over for the remainder of the game, and he started 3-of-5 for 37 yards to help Green Bay extend its lead to 6-3 midway through the third quarter.
Willis has been forced into games for the Packers previously, appearing in seven last year and starting two while collecting 550 passing yards and four total touchdowns.
Love went 8-of-13 for 77 before leaving the game, and he entered Saturday night’s showdown with 3,304 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns and six interceptions for the 9-4-1 Packers, who’d won four of their last five games — including one against the Bears earlier this month — to keep pace with the 10-4-1 Bears in the division.
But in the bigger picture, Love’s absence would be devastating for Green Bay in the stretch run of the regular season, as it will host the Ravens next week before closing the slate on the road against the Vikings.
This isn’t the Packers’ first injury to a big-name player this season.
Green Bay lost star edge rusher Micah Parsons for the year last weekend because of a torn ACL, too.
Now, one week later, head coach Matt LaFleur needs to navigate a quarterback dilemma, too.
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