Will Jordan Love play against Minnesota Vikings?

The Green Bay Packers have been without their starting quarterback since Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. Jordan Love has been practicing for a couple of weeks now, but he wasn’t on the field for Week 3. Whether or not Love plays remains to be seen, but it looks likely.

Injury report will come out at 3, LaFleur says. Love was … limited. "Any time he's out there, it's encouraging." But he won't say if he knows one way or the other on his availability for Sunday.

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) September 27, 2024

Sunday is only a couple of days away. The fact that Love continues to practice is a positive for the Packers. He did this same schedule last week though, and it was the Malik Willis show. The Vikings are preparing for both quarterbacks, but it certainly seems logical that the starter will be under center.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Injury Update: Who’s In and Who’s Out Vs Packers

Last season the Vikings went in to Lambeau Field, against Love, and emerged victorious, and did so without Justin Jefferson. On Sunday, Minnesota will come in fully healthy on offense.

Green Bay Packers top cornerback out?

While it seems likely that their QB will play on Sunday, the same cannot be said for their loud-mouthed cornerback, Jaire Alexander. Green Bay’s top defensive back has been limited all week in practice.

Nobody was overly concerned about his playing status. That was until Friday, when Alexander was held out of practice and listed with a full “Did Not Practice” designation. Now, it seems unlikely that he is ready to go. In most cases, players who do not practice on Friday do not play in the game that weekend.

#Packers CB Jaire Alexander did not practice today, and HC Matt LaFleur stated “Yeah, that’s a concern, for sure” when asked about his status.

Alexander is in danger of missing Sundays matchup against the #Vikings.

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 27, 2024

Per @Packers, CB Jaire Alexander is listed as Questionable heading into the #Vikings game Sunday. He officially was a DNP at today's practice.

Also, QB Jordan Love is listed as Questionable (to no suprise). G Jordan Morgan is Out and CB Carrington Valentine is Doubtful. pic.twitter.com/vEGP2BT1Zz

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) September 27, 2024

Since being drafted 18th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, Jaire Alexander has done his fair share of talking prior to Minnesota Vikings matchups. He has been unsuccessful in cashing most of those checks, and it’s possible he is out entirely on Sunday.

Minnesota’s WRs getting healthier, Green Bay CBs dropping

Last season, Justin Jefferson missed the Vikings vs Packers matchup, at Green Bay. Luckily, rookie Jordan Addison paddled Jaire’s butt up and down Lambeau Field, in JJ’s absence. The star cornerback tried to call the Vikings wide receiver’s performance a fluke, but the whole world knows.

Speaking of Jordan Addison, he is set to return this week. So the Minnesota Vikings will have two elite wide receivers on the field, while the Packers are unlikely to have their only elite corner. Despite being underdogs in the matchup, the Vikings should feel good about their chances to get a divisional win on Sunday.

Related: One Year Around Bud Grant Shaped Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell

Of course Jefferson is an entirely different animal in his own right. The Vikings offense has been clicking on all cylinders, and Green Bay being without their best cover corner isn’t going to be a detriment to Minnesota. Kevin O’Connell should have fun scheming against a defensive unit that is a bit lesser than those he has faced in recent weeks.

At the end of the day, Minnesota is most concerned about the players they have available in their locker room. The Vikings can’t control what Green Bay does, and they will look to emerge victorious on the scoreboard against whoever is out there.

Related: 4 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Vikings’ Week 4 Matchup vs Packers

On Addison, the outlook is optimistic. He was limited at Vikings practice on Wednesday, and insiders believe he is on track to play. Meanwhile, the Packers are trying to keep Jordan Love injury secrets locked up tight.

Jordan Love expected to start for Packers

Fortunately for us, they aren’t doing a very good job. On Thursday, it’s now widely accepted that Jordan Love will start for the Green Bay Packers, vs the Vikings. Over at The Athletic, NFL insider Vic Tafur was matter of fact regarding Love’s status. He writes that “the expectation is Jordan Love will play”.

LaFleur totally remade the Packers offense to feature Willis’ running skills, and Willis is 2-0 after routing his old team last week. The expectation is that Jordan Love will be back this week, and the Packers will need him against the Vikings defense, which has been on fire under coordinator Brian Flores and is the first unit in the last 23 seasons to have at least five sacks in each of its first three games.

Vic Tafur – The Athletic

It isn’t just Tafur who is hearing optimism surrounding Love’s status for Sunday. On Wednesday, Adam Schefter (ESPN) and Ian Rapoport (NFL Network) both projected Love to play.

Related: Packers QB Questions are Forcing the Vikings to Prep for Two QBs

That same kind of optimism has been reflected by local media members like Rob Demovsky (ESPN), Jason Hirschhorn (The Leap), and Wisconsin radio giant Bill Michaels (96.7 FM), who said this on KFAN Radio with Paul Allen on Thursday morning.

“You want to bring him back because it is a big game. It’s a big opponent. If the Vikings win this one, they are up three games on the Packers, because they would own the tiebreaker. So it’s huge for the Packers, in that regard.

Two, I don’t think you want to bring him back at SoFi stadium next week, on turf. I think you want to put him on natural grass, at home, and with a little momentum. If you need to bring in Malik Willis, you can. Just what I saw yesterday, it seems [Malik Love] is more ready to go this week, than he was last week.”

Bill Michaels on KFAN Radio

Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers has MASSIVE implications

Bill is right about how big this game is. Not just for the Packers, but for the Minnesota Vikings, too. In fact, it might be the biggest game, so far this season, and that’s saying something for a team that’s had to prove itself in all three of its matchups, to this point.

In week one, the Vikings had to prove they weren’t going to be NFL bottom dwellers by going on the road and beating the New York Giants. Week two, the San Francisco 49ers were going to put the Vikings in their place, but failed. Then, in week three, the AFC favorite Houston Texans came to town and hit the Minnesota brick wall, too.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Nearing Top of Tom Brady Power Rankings

Just like that, the Minnesota Vikings are 3-0. But Sunday is their first divisional game, and they have a chance to go up on the 2-1 Green Bay Packers by two games. But really, the lead would be more than that, being this week’s matchup is at Lambeau, and the Vikings can take tiebreaker control.

And from the sounds of it, the Packers will have their starting quarterback Jordan Love healthy. That’s good, because we wouldn’t want to give their fans a built-in excuse for Sunday’s ass-kicking in Green Bay.

Minnesota Vikings should prepare for Jordan Love this week

The Minnesota Vikings have beaten Daniel Jones, Brock Purdy, and C.J. Stroud this season. That collection of quarterbacks comes in all across the board. It remains to be seen where Jordan Love sits this season, but Green Bay certainly believes they have a star. Brian Flores will need to prepare his defense to face Love this weekend.

From @GMFB: A look at the QB situations for the #Packers (with Jordan Love return looming), the #Dolphins (Snoop this week?), and #Chargers (how short-handed will LAC be?). pic.twitter.com/hzh7grMb96

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 25, 2024

“It does seem like the Packers will have their quarterback back, not for sure for sure, but as close as it has been. Jordan Love returned to practice in full pads last week. I would say it got somewhat close to being on the field, of course obviously it was another Malik Willis start. Another Malik Willis win by the way. One of the cooler stories in the NFL there. That likely gets set aside this week. Jordan Love, out the last couple of weeks with an MCL sprain… truly makes sense that you will see him this week against the Vikings.”

Ian Rapoport on Jordan Love (NFL Network)

Jordan Love’s mobility around the #Packers practice field today. He’s taking his time on that left knee, which is in a metal brace. But it’s strong enough for him to practice two straight days. pic.twitter.com/03GMXQTtAD

— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) September 19, 2024

Although Malik Willis started against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Matt LaFleur had his franchise quarterback on the practice field. Jordan Love suffered an MCL sprain during Week 1, and the timeline was estimated to be a few weeks. With either Week 4 or 5 looking likely, a return to practice days ago lines Love up for the Minnesota shown.

Jordan Love testing his mobility on that injured left knee in warmups. pic.twitter.com/CvaMF5rY4g

— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) September 22, 2024

Related: Best/Worst Minnesota Vikings in Week 3, per PFF

Love was seen on the field prior to the Titans matchup. If he’s ready to go against the Vikings, then it won’t be just for warmups. Minnesota has seen the Packers signal caller before, and Flores will have his unit ready to go.

What can Vikings expect from Jordan Love?

There isn’t much tape on Jordan Love this season. He threw for 260 yards and a pair of touchdowns during Green Bay’s tilt against Philadelphia in Brazil. Minnesota split with Green Bay last year, and it may be the second game that Flores tries to key in on.

JAYDEN REED LEFT WIDE OPEN FOR THE 70-YARD TD.

📺: #GBvsPHI on Peacock pic.twitter.com/cAvTn5HLLd

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2024

After the Vikings won a 24-10 game in Lambeau, the Packers got their revenge at U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota’s season had gone awry by that point, and the quarterback situation was perilous. Still, the Vikings defense can look at what Love did to find success during the 33-10 victory.

Related: Oddsmakers Still Not Sold on Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers

Ultimately the odds makers still aren’t on board with Minnesota. The Vikings head out on the road as two-point underdogs. They’ll look to win their second road contest of the season. After seeing Love, a date with his predecessor looms in London.

Related: NFC Wildcard Round Proved Vikings Need to Bring Kirk Cousins Back

All game long, Love looked like the next coming of Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, probably a combination of the two. All Minnesota Vikings fans could do was look on and wonder what the next decade is going to be like if that really does come to fruition.

Jordan Love ain't real
pic.twitter.com/99puEk9Djn

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 21, 2024

Kyle Shanahan wishing he had Kirk Cousins instead of Brock Purdy tonight

Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers were riding the struggle bus offensively all game long and the problem was clear. It was Brock Purdy. He couldn’t hang onto the football or hit wide open receivers.

And it didn’t matter how many YPC Christian McCaffrey was averaging, Kyle Shanahan is who he is… and that’s a pass-happy play-caller, just like everyone who has fallen from the Shanahan tree, including Vikings head coach, Kevin O’Connell.

Name your Shanahan disciple, McVay, Shanahan, O’Connell… they all love to call passing plays, no matter how well their running backs are playing. And on Saturday night, Brock Purdy was not good enough to operate that type of offense.

Brock Purdy facing his first adversity in WEEKS pic.twitter.com/KFzOyVRPSl

— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) January 21, 2024

Which brings us back to the Minnesota Vikings, who are getting ready to sit down at the negotiating table with their quarterback since 2018, Kirk Cousins. In case you haven’t heard, there’s one head coach in the NFL who might like Kirk more than KOC and his name rhymes with Smile Kanahan.

Read More: Kyle Shanahan Explains His Love For Kirk Cousins in 49ers Press Conference

He coaches the same 49ers team whose quarterback nearly lost them another playoff game Saturday night. For a lot of this game, it sure felt like San Francisco’s season was going to be over and that they’d be on the hunt for a QB who could get them over the hump. A QB like Kirk Cousins.

Jordan Love goes full Brett Favre…

But then, the unpredictable world of sports took over and some weird shit happened. That’s why we love sports, right? The 49ers drove down and finally took the lead, late in the 4th quarter with just 1:06 remaining in the game. It felt like the moment Jordan Love would be knighted as the next great NFL quarterback.

Everything leading up to the Packers last drive would have made any right-minded fan feel that way. Instead, Love went full 2009-10 NFC Championship Game Brett Favre across the body, “It can’t end like this” and threw a game-sealing interception that ended Green Bay’s season and kept Mike Shanahan and the 49ers away from Kirk Cousins for at least one more week.

It’s crazy how similar these throws are. I’m getting PTSD from it. pic.twitter.com/qvXkI2LxbF

— 10,000 Takes (@10k_Takes) January 21, 2024

So instead of worrying about the San Francisco 49ers coming for Kirk Cousins, we can celebrate Jordan Love not yet being what Green Bay Packers fans thought he was. Sports have a funny way of surprising you like that.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Can Sign Cousins, Jefferson and Hunter Without Breaking Salary Cap Bank