Packers’ Jordan Love Gets Major Backing From Former NFL Star

October 28, 2026 Grant Afseth Packers, Syndication 0

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) looks to pass during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Former Green Bay Packers center Jeff Saturday said Wednesday on ESPN’s “First Take” that quarterback Jordan Love is “absolutely” being asked to do too much, three days after a 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions dropped Green Bay to 4-3.

“Are y’all watching the games?” Saturday said on the show. “They lead the league in the NFL in drops. I think they have 18. 18 drops.”

Saturday also pointed to the pressure on Love and a running game he said Green Bay does not have. From a quarterback’s view, he said, “if you can’t run it and your guys drop it, you keep throwing it.”

“Heck yeah, they’re asking a lot of you,” Saturday said.

“I’ve been hard on Jordan Love in big moments in the past seasons,” Saturday said. “This guy has played elite-level QB this season and has, in my opinion, clearly taken a step, even though the record doesn’t reflect it.”

In 2012, his final NFL season, Saturday snapped to Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and made his sixth Pro Bowl.

With the score tied at 17 and 3:30 left Sunday, Josh Jacobs dropped Love’s third-and-5 pass in the end zone in his season debut. Rookie kicker Trey Smack then missed a 35-yard field goal that was tipped, and the Lions drove for a walk-off field goal. Smack had also missed on Green Bay’s opening possession.

Jacobs apologized to his teammates after the game.

Love finished 27 of 45 for 274 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Detroit sacked him once, his 14th of the season. Over seven games he has thrown for 1,958 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions on 162-of-271 passing, good for a 90.3 passer rating.

On the ground, Green Bay ranks last in the NFL at 59.9 rushing yards per game.

Help at receiver is not guaranteed this week. Second-year receiver Matthew Golden did not participate Monday or Tuesday on Green Bay’s estimated reports with shoulder and foot injuries, and center Sean Rhyan (ankle) also did not participate. Love came off the injury report Monday after being listed with a sore back last week.

Should Golden miss Thursday, Love would play on a short week without him and with John Williams likely at center.

The Packers host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday at Lambeau Field. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CT on Prime Video.