The Packers got a brief look at Jordan Love in Thursday’s preseason opener, and the early returns on the starter don’t move the needle much either way. Love finished 3/5 for 18 yards, a line that wasn’t flashy, but it came in a small enough sample that there’s no real reason to sound alarms. He’s been “accomplished and having an incredible camp,” and that matters more than one short preseason stint.
The bigger issue showed up after Love left the game.
Green Bay’s quarterback depth looked shaky, with Tyrod Taylor and Kyle McCord both struggling to make the kind of impression the Packers probably wanted. Taylor went 4/8 for 21 yards, while McCord finished 12/16 for 102 yards.
The numbers for McCord look cleaner on paper, but the game revealed the limitations in his arm and mobility. Taylor, meanwhile, dealt with accuracy problems and looked like an aging quarterback trying to hold things together.
That doesn’t mean either player is out of the picture. But it does underline how different this room feels now compared to a year ago.
Losing Malik Willis was a real hit to the Packers’ depth chart. With him gone, Taylor is the primary backup, and that leaves Green Bay with obvious limits behind Love. Willis had been a luxury as a fallback option, and that’s easy to see now that he’s getting a starting opportunity with the Miami Dolphins.
Thursday night only sharpened that concern. Neither Taylor nor McCord was able to finish a drive against backups and depth players, which is not exactly the kind of sign that calms nerves.
McCord was able to move the ball, but when drives got close to scoring range, he couldn’t turn them into points. Taylor, in his preseason debut, missed on half his throws and didn’t deliver the steady veteran feel Green Bay was hoping for.
There is still time for that to change. Coaches are likely to care more about camp consistency and the work those two have already put in than one preseason showing. Taylor also still has two preseason games left to give fans a better sense of what he can provide if he’s forced into action.
Even so, the Packers may want to keep looking. Whether that means exploring a potential Anthony Richardson trade or waiting on veteran cuts, it’s hard to ignore the idea that Green Bay could find an upgrade. Love gives the team a strong foundation, but after two seasons with Willis as the backup upside, the drop-off behind him now feels pretty clear.
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Packers Just Got A Reminder How Fast Quarterback Depth Can Change
Quarterback depth can look settled right up until a preseason snap changes the conversation, and the Packers saw a reminder of that in their game against Pittsburgh. A reserve passer who entered as the third quarterback immediately made the most of the opportunity, hitting a 74-yard strike on his first attempt and giving the Steelers a jolt of momentum in a game that quickly became about more than roster trimming.
The performance only sharpened the competition behind the top of the depth chart, where Mason Rudolph still sits as Aaron Rodgers' primary backup. For Green Bay, it was another example of how quickly a fringe quarterback can turn one showing into real noise, and why those final spots are never as secure as they seem in August. [Read more 🡒]
Matt LaFleur Just Sent A Clear Message About Protecting Jordan Love
Protection of Jordan Love is becoming a clear priority in Green Bay, and Matt LaFleur made sure that message was heard during practice. When a team period got too physical and a defender drove a teammate into Love, LaFleur immediately cut it off and sent the rookie off the field, a reminder that the Packers are not looking to turn camp reps into unnecessary punishment for their quarterback.
Loves importance hardly needs spelling out after signing his four-year, $220 million deal in 2024, and the stakes around his development remain obvious. He has played well enough to keep belief high, but he is also being asked to take another step, especially with accuracy and timing still central to his growth. For Green Bay, keeping him upright is part of the equation, but so is making sure the moments in practice are helping him sharpen the details that matter most. [Read more 🡒]