Jordan Love to Be Game-Time Decision for Packers vs. Vikings amid Knee Injury Rehab

The Green Bay Packers will give quarterback Jordan Love "up to game time" on Sunday to decide if he is ready to return from a sprained MCL against the Minnesota Vikings, head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters on Thursday.

Love has not played or been a full participant in practice since suffering the knee injury during the Packers' Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil.

The Vikings are currently preparing both Love and backup Malik Willis to start Sunday's NFC North contest, per CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.

Love was injured when tackled by two Eagles defenders in the final seconds of the Sept. 6 game. He was in visible pain on the field before being helped to the sideline.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that the MCL sprain had left Love's ACL intact, and that the quarterback was expected to recover within three to six weeks.

The Packers accordingly did not place Love on the injured reserve in a sign of hope the quarterback would return sooner than the four-game respite mandated by IR.

After missing a Sept. 15 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Love returned to practice in a limited capacity three days later.

He was also sidelined for last Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans, but head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters on Wednesday that Love was "making progress" amid his limited participation.

Love also told reporters on Wednesday that he had been "close" to playing against the Titans, and was working on "building" up his workload.

The Packers starter threw for 260 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against the Eagles prior to his Week 1 injury.

Last season he cemented his place as the successor to Aaron Rodgers by throwing for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to lead the Packers back into the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2022.

The Packers showed their confidence in Love's ability to lead the team on a deeper playoff run by setting an NFL record with a four-year, $220 million extension set to kick in next season.

Willis has so far held steady in Love's absence, leading the team to a 2-0 record through Weeks 2 and 3 and keeping the Packers on trajectory for another potential postseason berth this spring.

But with arguably the best defense in the NFL coming to town under Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Packers will hope to get their starting quarterback back on the field in time to take on the 3-0 Vikings.