Packers-Lions Injury Report: Jordan Love One of Six Questionable, Doubtful or Out

The Green Bay Packers revealed their final injury report of the week on Friday. Safety Evan Williams is out and quarterback Jordan Love and cornerback Jaire Alexander are questionable for Sunday vs. the Lions.

The Don Hutson Center while the players warm up on Friday. / Bill Huber/Packers On SI

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is questionable for Sunday’s NFC North showdown against the Detroit Lions.

While signs point to Love being back in the lineup after missing most of the second half of last week’s victory over Jacksonville with a groin injury, the Packers have some considerable injury issues entering a game against arguably the best team in the NFL.

Safety Evan Williams is out and center Josh Myers is doubtful. They did not practice this week. Cornerback Jaire Alexander, who also did not practice this week, is questionable, as are running back Josh Jacobs and cornerback Corey Ballentine.

Last week, Love suffered a groin injury during the opening series. He left the game in the third quarter and did not return. This week, he did not practice on Wednesday but was limited participation on Thursday and Friday.

That he practiced again, rather than the team simply shutting him down with an eye on using this week and next week’s bye to get him healthy, would suggest that Love is going to play against the Lions.

“I think we’re going to do it how we always do it. We’ll give him up to game time to see how he’s feeling,” coach Matt LaFleur said after practice.

On Fridays, reporters only get to see the team’s extensive warmup inside the Don Hutson Center. Love went through the entire routine, which includes hopping on each leg and shuffling before concluding with a few three-quarter-speed sprints with abrupt stops. He did the hopping alongside strength and conditioning coordinator Aaron Hill.

From there, LaFleur huddled the team by a set of doors leading out to the Clarke Hinkle Practice Field.

The only players who did not go outside were Myers, Alexander and Williams. They did not practice at all this week.

Myers, who put on his socks and shoes on Thursday with only his right hand because of an injured left wrist, is one of nine centers with at least 270 pass-protecting snaps who has not allowed a sack this season, according to PFF.

“I’m taking it day by day,” Myers said on Thursday. “It’s hard to say. We’re going to do everything I can though, I can guarantee that.”

Alexander, who suffered a knee injury on the final defensive snap of last week’s win at Jacksonville, has allowed only one catch each of the last three weeks for a total of three receptions for 31 yards, according to PFF.

Williams, who was unable to play through a hamstring issue last week, has 27 tackles, three passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble. The pass defense suffered last week after he exited following his 18th snap.

If Myers can’t play, Elgton Jenkins probably would move to center and first-round pick Jordan Morgan would move into the lineup at guard for his first career start.

Could Myers practice with a protective club?

“We’ve practiced that way before,” LaFleur said.

For all the focus on Love this week, the status of Alexander and Williams is critical, too. Jared Goff is the hottest quarterback in the NFL and Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best receivers in the league.

Jacobs played through an ankle injury last week against Jacksonville. He did not practice on Wednesday but was limited participation on Thursday and Friday, so he is expected to play.

The sun returned to Green Bay on Friday, but the team practiced through showers on Thursday and rain is in the forecast for Sunday’s game.

That Love practiced on a wet and potentially slick field was a good sign that he’ll give it a shot in a huge divisional matchup rather than use this week and next week’s bye to get healthy.

“I think there’s some rain in the forecast, so that certainly could be the gameday conditions,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said on Thursday. “I think him getting that confidence of going out there and just running around and throwing the ball and doing all that stuff, that’s the most important thing is that, just for him mentally getting ready to get himself in position to play.”

On Wednesday, Love said it would be “realistic” for him to play even with limited mobility.

“To me, what factors is can you protect yourself or not,” LaFleur said on Thursday.

Defensive tackles Kenny Clark (toe/shoulder) and Devonte Wyatt (ankle), left guard Elgton Jenkins (glute) and left tackle Rasheed Walker (knee) did not practice on Wednesday but were not given an injury designation on Friday and are good to go.

Speaking before Friday’s practice in Detroit, coach Dan Campbell said defensive end Josh Paschal (illness) and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) would not play on Sunday.

Rodriguez, who has started three games this season, has 23 tackles and two sacks. Paschal replaced Aidan Hutchinson in the starting lineup. Against the Vikings in Week 7, he played 87 percent of the snaps and had one sack.

Quarterback Jared Goff (ankle) and the four offensive linemen who did not practice on Wednesday are all clear for Sunday.

Packers Final Injury Report

Out: S Evan Williams (hamstring).

Doubtful: C Josh Myers (wrist).

Questionable: CB Jaire Alexander (knee), CB Corey Ballentine (ankle), RB Josh Jacobs (ankle), QB Jordan Love (groin).

Lions Final Injury Report

Out: DE Josh Paschal (illness), LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle), DT Brodric Martin (knee).

Doubtful: DL Mekhi Wingo (ankle), RB Sione Vaki (knee).

More Green Bay Packers News 

As he talked about his injured wrist today, #Packers center Josh Myers put on his socks and shoes with only one hand. Naturally, he's hoping to play, anyway. ⬇️https://t.co/CRRNBFA8tO

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) November 1, 2024

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