Packers make a risky and unnecessary quarterback decision at a troubling time with the playoffs rapidly approaching
Jordan Love is expected to serve as the main backup to Clayton Tune in Minnesota.
The Green Bay Packers decided not to elevate quarterback Desmond Ridder for Week 18, which means either Jordan Love or Malik Willis will be the backup to Clayton Tune, the third-string quarterback who will start against the Minnesota Vikings as the Packers will rest key players in a meaningless game.
And, according to Bill Huber from Sports Illustrated, the Packers have made a risky decision. Love is expected to be active as the backup quarterback.
Questionable backup QB approach by the Packers
If Tune has to leave the game for any reason, Love would have to step onto the field and risk an injury right before the playoffs. The game is meaningless, and the Packers themselves are showing that by starting Tune. So why would they want to risk Love in a situation like that is a fair question to ask.
If Love has to enter the game, it would be almost exclusively handoffs. But it would be safer and easier to just elevate Ridder and let him play, even with just three practices after signing with Green Bay. After all, that’s why he was signed in the first place.
Last year, the Packers got cute playing their starters in Week 18. Love hurt his elbow, which affected his play against the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs, and wide receiver Christian Watson tore his ACL. There’s no good reason to partially repeat the mistake now.
Love suffered a concussion against the Chicago Bears and did not play against the Baltimore Ravens, but cleared the concussion protocol earlier this week.
Injury report and roster moves
Willis is listed as questionable because of shoulder and hamstring injuries. And based on what Huber reported, he should be inactive against the Vikings — he could still be the emergency third quarterback in this case, allowed to be on the field if Tune and Love go down with injuries.
On Saturday, the Packers made six roster moves, promoting wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James and interior offensive lineman Lecitus Smith from the practice squad. The team elevated tight end Drake Dabney and linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson for gameday, and it’s questionable whether either of the last two elevations is more impactful for the gameday roster than protecting Love for the playoffs.
Hopefully for the Packers, Tune plays the entire game without any incident.
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