Packers will have to win without Love

A New Chapter For Willis

Pump the brakes. 

The season is not over. One game does not a season make and just because Jordan Love will miss some time doesn’t mean the Packers cannot make a deep playoff run. Does that automatically mean the Packers should go after 36-year-old Ryan Tannehill, 32-year-old Trevor Siemian, 31-year-old Teddy Bridgewater, 30-year-old C.J. Beathard or 30-year-old Nate Sudfeld? The answer is a hard no. What do all those guys have in common? They are average to awful NFL quarterbacks. If they could still play, they would already be on a roster. There has also been talk about letting Sean Clifford take the reins because he obviously knows more since Malik Willis is currently drinking from a firehose at the mass amounts of information he’s ingesting. But Clifford didn’t even suit up down in Brazil as an emergency backup and that should tell you all you need to know about how the Packers feel about their 2023 fifth round pick.

It’s only the start of Week 2. Odds are that the Packers will have another notable player get injured this season. This will also be a measure of how deep this roster is. Did general manager Brian Gutekunst do enough when he built this roster? The Bills gave Mitchell Trubisky a two-year, $5.2 million contract and the Chiefs gave Carson Wentz a one-year, $3.3 million deal. What do both of those situations have in common? They both have realistic shots at the Super Bowl. Gutekunst didn’t like any of the quarterbacks that were in camp, which is why he sent a seventh rounder to Tennessee on Aug. 27 for Willis.

It may feel like the sky is falling but it really isn’t. The Packers have weapons at wide receiver, tight end and running back. It’s up to Matt LaFleur and his offensive staff to find ways to help Willis get them the ball.

Uncharted Territory Ahead for LaFleur

If Jordan Love is not cleared to start on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. That's the big "IF" in Titletown this week. If Jordan Love is not cleared. Words reiterated by Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur on Monday as he spoke to the Packers media.

To avoid the franchise’s first 0-2 start since 2006, the Packers head coach will have to turn to newly-acquired quarterback Malik Willis. LaFleur said he will call on the experience he had with the Titans in 2017 when Blaine Gabbert had to start for Marcus Mariota. In three starts for the Titans, Gabbert was 32/52 passing for 290 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

If the 2024 Packers are going to do what was projected of them this summer, then this stretch where the franchise quarterback is not playing, could be the determining factor in what level of success that may or may not be.

Packer Transplants: Different chef, same meal

CHTV co-founders Corey Behnke and Aaron Nagler discuss the Packers season opening loss to the Eagles, some eerily familiar results from the defense and preview Sunday's matchup with the Colts.

Packers Periscope: Brazi-L and a Bratkowski-Willis Connection

It didn't take long for all of the excitement, pageantry, and energy of the Packers trip to Brazil to be replaced by a messy game - both Xs and Os and the field itself - and, at the time, serious injury to the team's quarterback on the last play of the game. As the saying goes, "time heals all wounds," it may heal wounds enough literally, with Matt LaFleur not exactly closing the door on Jordan Love making it back this week. But with Love or not, there's plenty to clean up from the team's opening loss to Philly. And with that, let's set our sights on a new opponent - and a home opener at Lambeau, no less! The tape's been watched, the game plan's in action and the Periscope is up to look at the past, present and future of the Colts and Packers.

Set Evan Williams Free

Evan Williams is a baller.

He's just one of those guys on defense who can easily track the ball or ball carrier and can seemingly make big plays happen at will. It's a shame to keep a guy who's so talented on the sidelines, it's time to let him loose. After watching several Packers players whiff on tackles against the Eagles, the Packers would do well to get Williams and his upside on the field.

LaFleur often talks about having the five best offensive linemen on the field at all times, well how about your best defensive backs? It's time to make that a rule as well and make sure Evan Williams is part of the plan.

Reacting To Jordan Love Injury Updates

Aaron Nagler reacts to several reports regarding Jordan Love suffering a sprained MCL and the timelines around his suspected return, along with who will be the starting quarterback with the Packers wait for Love to return to the starting lineup.

Check out exclusive Cheesehead TV merch!

5 Takeaways From Packers 29-34 Eagles

Of course the only takeaway that really matters from Friday’s game is the news reported after the team landed back in Green Bay on Saturday; Jordan Love’s season is not over.

An awkward looking injury to the knee area during a desperate, futile late comeback attempt could have essentially ended the Packers’ season in any meaningful way, but instead an MCL sprain is only expected to keep Love out for three to four weeks.

That means Malik Willis, only acquired from the Titans in recent weeks, is in line to start multiple games for the now 0-1 Packers, including a trip to Tennessee to face his former team in two weeks.

Assuming Willis has to play the next three games, the Packers will realistically need to win at least one of those to avoid an 0-4 start, which could give Love too much to do when he returns. Green Bay would need to go at least 9-3 the rest of the way in that scenario.

Willis is still raw despite his age and tenure in the league, but he has an exciting skillset, including the ability to make plays with his legs.

We saw Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell form a competent offense around Josh Dobbs for a few weeks last season, can Matt LaFleur do the same with Willis and keep the team’s playoff hopes afloat while Love recovers?

Get four other takeaways from last week’s game right here.

Book review: Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers

Phil Hanrahan is a Milwaukee-based writer and the author of Life After Favre: The Green Bay Packers and Their Fans Usher in the Aaron Rodgers Era. His first interview for the book was with Cheesehead TV at the Packers bar Kettle of Fish in New York City. He has reviewed of Ian O'Connor's new book, Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers for CHTV. Take a look.

Carry The G Radio

Aaron Nagler (Cheesehead TV) and Bill Schmid (97.3 The Game) react to the Packers loss in Brazil and Jordan Love’s injury. They also look ahead to the home opener against the Colts and defend the honor of the Gold Packge. It is the Season 2 debut of Carry The G Radio!

Carry The G Cream Ale is back for the season!

CheeseheadTV Nation Colts-Packers preview

In an exclusive video for our Die Hard subscribers, Aaron and Pack-A-Day podcast creator Andy Herman preview the matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Die Hard additional benefits include:

• Exclusive video with Aaron Nagler and Andy Herman of Pack-A-Day.

• Exclusive post-game podcasts with Aaron Nagler and Paul Bretl.

• Exclusive postgame analysis and review from Ken Lass, former Packers Broadcaster.

• Access to our weekly Live Happy Hour (chat with us and other Die Hard fans!)

• 10% discount on all items in the CHTV merch store.

To get all of this, you can subscribe below:

Subscribe to Die Hard to read the rest.