Titans fans should hope the Packers make the right QB decision between Jordan Love and Malik Willis
When Jordan Love went down in Brazil at the end of the Packers-Eagles Week 1 game, jaded Titans fans jokingly looked ahead to Week 3 and wondered: how hobbled would Jordan Love have to be for the Packers to prefer Malik Willis to him on game day? Flash forward two weeks, and this is precisely […]
When Jordan Love went down in Brazil at the end of the Packers-Eagles Week 1 game, jaded Titans fans jokingly looked ahead to Week 3 and wondered: how hobbled would Jordan Love have to be for the Packers to prefer Malik Willis to him on game day?
Flash forward two weeks, and this is precisely the question the Packers are having to ask themselves.
The latest on Love
Love returned to Packers practice for the first time on Wednesday, participating in limited fashion. After practice, he shared where he's at with returning to play:
“I’m going to take the week and just take it day by day and see how it feels. I’m not going to make any decisions right now. I’m hopeful that I can get to that point where I can get in there, but we’re just going to take it day by day.”
The reporting has started flowing hot and heavy, as the Packers seem awfully interested in making the potential of Love returning early sound like a real possibility. Adam Schefter fired off this tweet on Thursday morning with the update he's been given.
On a more local level, ESPN Packers reporter Rob Demosvsky is on the record saying Love playing in Week 2 against the Colts was a very real consideration.
As for how the Titans are preparing for either passer, head coach Brian Callahan seemed unphased by the uncertainty when he spoke with us on Wednesday:
"To me, it doesn't matter. We have to prepare to go play the Packers offense, whether it's with Malik (Willis) or with Jordan (Love). Schematically, it varies a little bit, but at the end of the day, we have to do our jobs well."
So who will the Titans see on Sunday? And more importantly, who should they want to see?
Who Titans fans should want
I'll start by establishing some biases. First and foremost, clearly the most important thing the Packers must consider in their decision is the narrative. We, the media, need Malik Willis to play in this game against the Titans. That's obviously the most important element in play!
Now all joking aside, I have watched a lot of Malik Willis football. In fact, I'm afraid I've probably watched more Malik Willis football than most every person on this planet. I'm very comfortable in my assessment of him as a player, and that assessment is that he's, um, limiting.
You could see that the Packers recognized this as well in his first game with them. Willis passed the ball so little, you have to toggle off the "qualified passers" button to see his stats on most databases. In his defense, he certainly didn't need to pass any more than he did against that Colts defense. They coasted to victory on the ground.
What would it even look like if Love played in this game? Schefter's report reiterated the fact that a return now would be ahead of schedule. There's no way he would be 100%, perhaps not even close.
The Titans faced a situation just like this in September last season, when Joe Burrow (and Brian Callahan, Tyler Boyd, and Chidobe Awuzie) came to town in Week 4. Burrow had a preseason calf injury he was still working through, and was a complete statue in the pocket. It led to a miserable day offensively, and a resounding Titans victory. It's not unreasonable to wonder if playing Love would result in a similar situation for the Packers.
As to who the Titans should want to see, despite the potential immobility advantage they'd have against a hobbled Love, the answer is still firmly Malik Willis. At the end of the day, Love's ability as a passer (even if he's confined to pocket-statue status) is far superior to what Malik can offer. And assuming the Titans run defense proves significantly better than the resistance Indianapolis offered in Week 2, The Packers are going to have move the ball through the air.
The Titans are also at a unique advantage against Willis because of how well they know him. Of course, his knowledge of the Titans could prove very helpful to the Packers defense as they prepare this week. But the Titans defense should know exactly how to make Willis uncomfortable. What he likes, where he excels, and what he struggles with. They'll know every element of his game if they face him. I feel strongly that a 75%, immobile Love would give the Packers a better chance to win than a 100% Willis would.
Who Titans fans will get
As to who actually plays, I also feel strongly about Willis getting the start. The media coverage of Love's potential accelerated timeline smells of Packers gamesmanship. It's not impossible to come back from an MCL injury quickly if it's a minor tear, but the image of Love on the ground writhing in pain feels pretty damning.
The context of this game in the grand scheme of the Packers season feels like it's the most important element of all. This isn't a winless team desperate to avoid an 0-3 start. This is a road game against a non-conference opponent, and next week they play a much more consequential divisional game against the undefeated Vikings.
Love and the Packers have Super Bowl aspirations in 2024. Whether they win or lose to the Titans in Week 3 isn't likely to have nearly the impact on those goals that a re-injured Love would. They're a historically conservative franchise when it comes to injuries, and I expect them to focus on the endgame as they start Willis this weekend.
Will Levis mistakes amplified by jaw-dropping Titans offensive line metrics in loss to Jets
Will Levis is being set up to fail by his offensive line so far. Plain and simple. And the metrics not only prove this; they’re pretty shocking.
