The Green Bay Packers made a significant decision on quarterback Jordan Love ahead of the final contest of the season, which indicates how the franchise is viewing its matchup with the Minnesota Vikings on January 4.
Love missed the second half of Green Bay’s game against the Chicago Bears in Week 16 with a concussion following a helmet-to-helmet collision with defensive end Austin Booker. The QB was a limited participant in practice leading up to the Packers’ showdown with the Baltimore Ravens last week, but he ultimately did not clear protocol in time to suit up.
Malik Willis started in Love’s stead, though a shoulder injury late led the Packers to turn to third-string signal-caller Clayton Tune. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday, January 1 that Tune will get the start against Minnesota this weekend.
“#Packers QB Jordan Love has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol, but coach Matt LaFleur announced that Clayton Tune will start vs the #Vikings,” Rapoport wrote on X.
Packers Operating With Playoffs in Mind
GettyGreen Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
Green Bay is clearly gearing toward its opening playoff contest over Super Wildcard Weekend, which will happen either at Soldier Field against the Bears or in Philadelphia against the Eagles, depending on how Week 18 plays out across the conference. A Chicago win or a Philly loss will set up a third showdown with the Bears in five weeks (1-1).
The Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC either way, so LaFleur and company are clearly playing it safe and making sure that both Love and Willis are as healthy as possible for the game that actually matters.
As such, more news on meaningful players taking Week 18 off could emerge from Green Bay in the coming days, as the Packers prioritize longer-term rest and health over defeating the Vikings in Minneapolis this weekend.
Bears Likely to Start Healthy Players Against Lions in Week 18
GettyQuarterback Caleb Williams (left) and head coach Ben Johnson (right) of the Chicago Bears.
Chicago, on the other hand, appears to be taking the opposite approach.
The Bears square off against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on Sunday. First-year head coach Ben Johnson, a strong candidate for NFL Coach of the Year, has indicated that the team intends to approach Week 18 as it has every game up to this point in the season.
“Our No. 1 objective is to win this ballgame,” Johnson said Wednesday in the context of QB Caleb Williams‘ pursuit of the first 4,000-yard passing campaign in franchise history. “Whatever that takes, that’s our goal.”
Johnson spent the last several years as part of the Lions organization, working the last three seasons as offensive coordinator directly under head coach Dan Campbell. Campbell and company embarrassed Johnson and the Bears at Ford Field in Week 2, knocking Chicago down to an 0-2 record on the year by way of a 31-point victory.
Whether that loss is factoring into Johnson’s Week 18 strategy or not is unclear. However, the Bears do have something to else play for, as a victory guarantees them the No. 2 seed in the NFC regardless of how the Eagles fare against the Washington Commanders.
That outcome would guarantee Chicago home-field advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs, and all the way to the Super Bowl if the No. 1 seed loses before the conference championship game. The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers square off this weekend, with the winner claiming the NFC’s top seed and a bye through Round 1.
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