Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is expected to start against the visiting Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, three-plus weeks after he sprained the MCL in his left knee, according to multiple reports.
Love practiced all week and was listed Friday as questionable on the injury report, the same status he had the previous two weeks but was inactive for both games.
Love, 25, said that he felt like he was “close” to being ready to start last week at Tennessee. He was limited in Friday’s practice and wore a brace on his left knee.
He had four total touchdowns in his last start against the Vikings, including one on the ground.
“I’m trying to push it and I’ve been trying to get back as fast as I can no matter who the opponent was,” Love said.
Love was 17-for-34 passing for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the season-opening 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 6 in Brazil. He was injured in the final seconds.
Malik Willis led the Packers to consecutive wins while Love was out, completing 73.5 percent of his passes for 324 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Willis is also averaging 9.5 yards per carry, rushing for 114 yards on 12 carries.
Packers quarterback Sean Clifford, who had been elevated to the active squad to serve as Willis’ backup the previous two weeks, remained on the practice squad Saturday.
Last season, Love went 9-8-0 in starting all 17 regular-season games. Love completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He also rushed 50 times for 247 yards and four TDs.
The Packers reached the second round of the NFC playoffs, as he was 37 of 55 (67.3 percent) for 466 yards, five TDS and two picks.
Love signed a four-year, $220 million contract extension in July, including $155 million guaranteed and a then NFL-record $75 million signing bonus. Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys has since received an $80 million signing bonus.
–Field Level Media
