The Green Bay Packers have made a decision on who will start at quarterback against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17.
Regular starter Jordan Love attempted to navigate concussion protocol over the last six days following a head injury he sustained late in the first half of last week’s contest with the Chicago Bears. Meanwhile, backup Malik Willis battled a problem with his throwing shoulder and an illness this week.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the final statuses of both players heading into a showdown with Baltimore at Lambeau Field on Saturday, December 27.
“ESPN Sources: Packers QB Jordan Love is out Saturday night vs. the Ravens due to his concussion and Malik Willis is expected to start,” Schefter reported via social media on Friday.
Malik Willis Far Superior Option for Packers Than Clayton Tune
GettyQuarterback Malik Willis of the Green Bay Packers
Playing without Love is obviously less than ideal for Green Bay, but having Willis available is considerably better for the Packers’ chances than the alternative.
Third-string quarterback Clayton Tune would have been the starter if Willis was also unable to go, and the drop off between Willis and Tune is larger than that between Love and Willis.
A fifth-round NFL draft pick out of Houston in 2023, Tune has just one start in his career. He has completed 14-of-23 passes for 70 yards and two interceptions across 13 appearances as a professional quarterback.
Willis, a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2022, has played in 21 games and started five contests (3-2) across his four-year career. He has tallied 1,034 passing yards, five TDs and three INTs on a 64.9 percent completion rate. Willis has also rushed the football for 345 yards and two scores on 5.3 yards per attempt.
He played well against the Bears last week, despite hurting his shoulder late in the fourth quarter. Willis finished the day 9-of-11 passing for 121 yards and one TD. He also ran the football 10 times for 44 yards.
Ravens Likely to Play Packers Without QB Lamar Jackson
GettyBaltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
While the Packers will play without Love, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson remained doubtful on Friday for the weekend game due to a back injury.
Jackson did not practice at all this week after suffering the injury last Sunday against the New England Patriots. That most likely means that Tyler Huntley will start for Baltimore (7-8) in a contest the Ravens must win to remain alive in the AFC playoff hunt.
Green Bay, meanwhile, clinched a wildcard berth following the Detroit Lions‘ loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day. However, the Packers are currently the No. 7 seed in the NFC at 9-5-1 and are likely to move up only if they can win their final two contests of the season and the Bears (11-4) lose their last two.
Chicago plays on the road against the San Francisco 49ers (11-4) on “Sunday Night Football” before hosting the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Week 18 to finish the year.
After all of the relevant injury news dropped Friday, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Packers as 3.5-point favorites to beat the Ravens at Lambeau Field. Green Bay finishes the season on the road against the Vikings in Week 18.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Packers Make Final QB Call Amid Jordan Love, Malik Willis Injuries appeared first on Heavy Sports.