Jordan Love’s status is trending in the right direction for the Packers, but the challenge ahead is still a nasty one.
Green Bay listed its quarterback as a full participant in practice Thursday after he opened the week on the injury report with a back injury. Love had been limited on Wednesday, then moved up a day later with only one more practice left before the Packers face the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
The injury report came after Love absorbed a heavy dose of punishment in Green Bay’s 23-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 6. He was sacked three times for minus-15 yards and took eight hits overall in the home victory.
Per Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, Love said he was dealing with " lingering" effects from the Packers' win over the Cowboys. He said Wednesday was more of a mental day for him after taking eight hits from the Cowboys’ defense.
Love expects to play against Detroit, but he also pointed directly at pass protection as part of the problem. He said Green Bay has to do a better job of keeping him clean in the pocket, and he believes the message is getting through.
That concern has been building all season. Through six games, Love has been sacked 13 times and has spent plenty of snaps working around pressure while the offensive line tries to settle in as both a pass-protection unit and a run-blocking group.
The numbers on his season tell the same story. Love has thrown for 1,684 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions, and with the run game managing just 2.9 yards per carry, much of the offense has fallen on his shoulders.
The Packers should get a lift from Josh Jacobs being available to face the Lions, though he may not be at full capacity. Jacobs missed the first six weeks of the season while on the commissioner exempt list, so he could still be limited as he works back into football shape.
Detroit brings a pass rush that has been piling up sacks at a relentless pace. The Lions have 20 sacks in five games, a league-high average of four per game, which is exactly the kind of front Green Bay wants to avoid putting Love in front of too often.
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