Matt LaFleur has left the door open for Jordan Love to start in the Green Bay Packers’ home opener against the Indianapolis Colts. However, LaFleur is probably playing mind games because the Packers have a history of being cautious with injured players. Fans should expect Love to be out for the initial three- to six-week recovery timeline, potentially returning as early as Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams or as late as Week 8 at Jacksonville.
With Love sidelined, the Packers will start Malik Willis in the coming weeks. Willis holds a 1-2 career record in the NFL, with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also rushed for 144 yards on 32 attempts.
LaFleur will likely spend this week adapting his game plan to suit Willis’ strengths. Willis is purely a mobile quarterback and has struggled in the NFL when forced to make plays from the pocket. In contrast, Love is more of a pocket passer who can improvise with his legs.
According to Pro Football Focus, Green Bay averaged 7.8 yards per rush against Philadelphia’s defense, a top-five unit against the run last year. Expect the Packers to build their game plan around zone reads for Willis and Josh Jacobs. They could also design quarterback runs with fakes for Christian Watson and Jayden Reed on jet sweeps.
The Packers need to get the ball out of Willis’ hands quickly, emphasizing high-percentage plays and avoiding hero ball. Expect a heavy reliance on designed screens to Josh Jacobs, Tucker Kraft, Dontayvion Wicks, and Jayden Reed. Kraft, Wicks, and Reed all ranked in the top-15 rookies in yards after the catch last year. Green Bay should simplify the game for Willis, making him comfortable with taking what’s in front of him and focusing on letting his playmakers handle the heavy lifting.
Green Bay should spread their receivers to stretch the defense horizontally. That could create space at the second level of the Colts’ defense, allowing Willis to exploit openings while scrambling. Willis must make plays from the pocket at some point. When that happens, designed slants, drags, and pick plays effectively get him into a rhythm and jumpstart the passing game.
It’s in Green Bay’s best interest to get Willis on the move with play-actions. They should use boots and rollouts to keep the defense guessing, allowing the Packers to disguise the run and pass as the play develops.
Willis’ weakness upon entering the league was processing defensive adjustments pre- and post-snap. However, his arm strength was never an issue. The Packers have the offensive line, receivers, and tight ends to give him the time to take a few deep shots downfield.
According to PFF, the Colts had the third-worst run defense in Week 1. The Packers should capitalize on this weakness to sustain long drives and keep their defense fresh. Jeff Hafley’s unit appeared exhausted entering the fourth quarter against Philadelphia, which is understandable given their shift to a more aggressive and physical philosophy.
It will all come down to the running game. Opportunities will open up if Willis can do enough to keep the Colts guessing. He doesn’t need to be great – just effective enough to manage the game and avoid turnovers. With Green Bay’s personnel and scheme, they can remain competitive and allow Jordan Love to return once he is fully healthy.
