Packers GM Shares Concerns About Jordan Love’s Preseason

Head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst of the Green Bay Packers have yet to decide how many preseason snaps new starting quarterback Jordan Love will receive this month.

“What Jordan needs affects a lot of the other guys, right? Because if Jordan’s in there, there’s going to be a bunch of other players in there as well that may not play a ton in the preseason,” Gutekunst explained while speaking with media members on Friday, per Mike Spofford of the Packers’ website. “I think Matt will work through that and make good decisions.”

Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich stated in May that the preseason was “going to be very important” in getting Love ready to start a season as Green Bay’s starting quarterback for the first time. But, as Gutekunst pointed out, the Packers also need Love to be as healthy as possible for the Sept. 10 game against the division foe Chicago Bears.

“You guys have heard me say he needs to play, a lot of our guys need to play, that unit needs to play together,” Gutekunst continued. “That’s a tough call protecting the safety of those guys in these games but also giving them the best chance to grow and be ready for the season.”

Green Bay’s quarterback dilemma is exacerbated further by the presence of untested commodities. Danny Etling and Alex McGough are fighting for the starting job alongside rookie fifth-round draft selection Sean Clifford.

“The preseason games, they’re going to get a lot of work,” Gutekunst said about those three signal-callers. “That should probably separate some things … As of right now, my mindset is, ‘Let’s see who comes out of that group.'”

Green Bay is holding joint practices with the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of their preseason debut next Friday in Cincinnati. In an ideal world, Love will do well enough during those sessions that the Packers will believe he does not need to endanger his health in the exhibition game at Paycor Stadium.