The Green Bay Packers are heading into a pivotal Week 17 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, and they’re doing it with a big question mark at the most important position on the field: quarterback.
As of now, both Jordan Love and Malik Willis are officially listed as questionable, leaving Green Bay in a holding pattern just two games out from the end of the regular season. It’s not the kind of uncertainty you want when your playoff hopes are hanging in the balance.
Love, who suffered a concussion early in last week’s tough loss to the Bears, has been participating in practice throughout the week, albeit in a limited capacity. That’s a positive sign, but he’s still in the league’s concussion protocol, and time is running short for him to get cleared.
Willis, meanwhile, is trending in the right direction. After sitting out Wednesday, he returned to the field Thursday in a limited role.
He banged up his shoulder late in the game against Chicago but managed to finish the contest under center after Love exited. He’s said he expects to be ready if needed, and given the circumstances, that could be more than just optimism - it might be necessity.
If neither Love nor Willis is able to suit up, Green Bay’s next man up would be Clayton Tune, a 2023 fifth-round pick currently on the practice squad. But so far, the Packers haven’t elevated him to the active roster, which suggests the team believes at least one of their top two quarterbacks will be good to go by kickoff.
The stakes couldn't be much higher. Green Bay’s loss to the Bears knocked them out of control in the NFC North race, but a Wild Card spot is still very much in play. Every snap matters from here on out, and the Packers need stability under center if they’re going to punch their ticket to the postseason.
As for Baltimore, their quarterback situation might be even murkier. Lamar Jackson is listed as doubtful, which puts the Ravens in a bind of their own. They’ve dropped three of their last four and are clinging to playoff hopes that are starting to slip through their fingers.
So what we’ve got on tap in Week 17 is a high-stakes battle between two teams fighting for their playoff lives - and both might be doing it with backup quarterbacks. It’s not the scenario either team envisioned, but in December football, it’s often about who can adapt and survive.
Keep an eye on the injury reports heading into the weekend. Because whether it’s Love, Willis, or someone else taking snaps for Green Bay, the outcome of this game could reshape the NFC playoff picture in a big way.