The Green Bay Packers have one more preseason game to get through before all of their focus and attention turns toward the regular season. One of the biggest questions that will be answered during practice is how much, if at all, will Jordan Love and the first-team offense play.
In the past, the third preseason game was the one in which starters got the most action in. Many teams would have the first team play the entire first half and sometimes the first drive of the second half just to get acclimated again to the break. But, with only three preseason games being played now, every team has a different approach.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has not yet ruled out playing his starters in the third preseason game. Given how inexperienced so many of his key contributors are, getting more game reps certainly wouldn’t hurt.
“I don’t want to make any decisions quite yet on whether or not we’re going to play these guys,” LaFleur said of his starters. “But I would anticipate them playing a little bit more next week. That’s just the gut feel I have right now. But I do have the right to change my mind on that.”
But, there are certainly risks involved. Injuries happen and if something were to happen to Love, the Packers’ season would be derailed before it even began. That is something that the coaching staff will have to weigh when making their decision.
Love also shared his opinion on the matter at hand. He doesn’t believe it would hurt to get some more reps in, but whatever is decided, he is confident that he is prepared to take the field as the starter in Week 1.
“At this point, I think I’m definitely ready for Week 1 and to carry on throughout the season,” Love said after Saturday’s game. “I think these first two games were a lot of good work. Obviously, getting the [joint] practice in with Cincy and with the Patriots, as well, but I think playing in that last game — me getting more reps, just getting more comfortable, seeing new looks, going against a different team — so I don’t think it would hurt.”
Love has looked good in the five series he has played in the preseason. He has completed 12-of-18 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. The only turnover was a mishandled snap on Saturday while in shotgun formation that was credited to center Josh Myers.
The confidence that he is expressing is something that the Packers certainly love to see. He believes he can get the job done and will have a chance to prove that to his doubters in a few weeks against the Chicago Bears.
