Packer Central

Updated Packers-Colts Thursday Injury Report: Love Out Again

For the second consecutive day, Malik Willis and Sean Clifford were the quarterbacks as the Packers get ready for Sunday’s game against the Colts.

Bill Huber

Packers QB Malik Willis at practice on Thursday.
Packers QB Malik Willis at practice on Thursday. / Bill Huber/Packers On Si
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GREEN BAY, Wis. – This was basically a copy-and-paste injury report for the Green Bay Packers.

Same as Wednesday, only one player was not present when the Packers stepped on the practice field on Thursday to continue their preparation for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

That player, of course, was quarterback Jordan Love. Officially, Love did not practice, coach Matt LaFleur said after practice. He was at practice, though, after reporters left.

“He’s been out there at practice,” LaFleur said. “He’s been engaged, knows every play call, is always coaching up Malik (Willis), coaching up Sean (Clifford) and is doing a good job with it.”

Love not only didn’t practice while reporters were present, but he wasn’t seen in the Don Hutson Center for the pre-practice warm-up, either.

On a typical practice day, reporters get to see the team stretch and get loosened up for practice inside the Don Hutson Center. Reporters are then sequestered inside for the opening period of practice, when the team walks through some of the plays on the menu for the game.

Just like on Wednesday, reporters were led out the Hutson Center immediately after Thursday’s stretch. It’s possible Love went through some sort of rehab workout away from the prying eyes of reporters.

After reporters left following practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Love arrived on the field to get ready - or help Willis get ready - for the game.

“He’s been out there (at practice), he’s getting his mental reps,” Willis said after practice on Wednesday. “He’s preparing to play, you know what I mean? And we’re just preparing ourselves if he can’t go. That’s the reality of this league. So, we just have to continue to utilize these reps and be ready to go if called upon.”

After Wednesday’s practice, LaFleur left open the possibility that Love could play against the Colts despite a knee injury sustained during the final seconds against the Eagles in Brazil on Friday.

“He’s doing a nice job,” LaFleur said. “He’s spending a lot of time in the training room. Our guys have done a great job with him – Flea (Bryan Engel) and Nate (Weir), all our athletic trainers, the strength staff – but at the same time, like I told you guys (on Monday) he’s got to be cleared.

“We’ve got to feel like he can protect himself and he’s got to be confident enough to go out there and do that. Until that happens, we are not even going to think about that.”

Would Love need to practice on Friday to play on Sunday?

“I would say no,” LaFleur said.

Every other player on the team practiced, including running backs Josh Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd. Both players were limited participation on Wednesday; Lloyd missed the end of training camp and was inactive last week due to a hamstring injury.

Linebacker Quay Walker (groin) is new to the report and was limited participation.

For the Colts, three of their top defenders – safety Julian Blackmon (shoulder), defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (back) and defensive end Kwity Paye (hamstring) – did not practice for the second day in a row.

Packers Thursday Injury Report

Did not participate: QB Jordan Love (knee).

Limited participation: CB Corey Ballentine (oblique), DT Kenny Clark (toe), RB Josh Jacobs (back), RB MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring), LB Quay Walker (groin).

Full participation: LB Edgerrin Cooper (knee).

Colts Thursday Injury Report

Did not participate: S Julian Blackmon (shoulder), DT DeForest Buckner (back), DE Kwity Paye (hamstring).

Limited participation: WR Josh Downs (ankle).

Full participation: K Matt Gay (hernia).

More Green Bay Packers News

The biggest challenge | Kraft critical of Brazil field | Packers-Colts Wednesday injury report | What did Willis say about Love? | LaFleur’s backup QB history | Odds will be stacked against Jacobs | What channel for Packers-Colts? | Packers sign tight end | Consensus NFL power rankings | Willis will start if Love’s not cleared | Three reasons to believe after Week 1 win | Three reasons to worry after Week 1 loss

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Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.