Report: Packers Coaches 'Blown Away' by Malik Willis' Play amid Jordan Love's Injury

Green Bay Packers coaches have been "blown away" by the ability of backup quarterback Malik Willis to fill in for injured starter Jordan Love, ESPN's Dan Graziano reported.

When a groin injury forced Love to leave Sunday's road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half, Willis stepped up to connect on four of five pass attempts for 56 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Packers on a last-minute field goal drive to seal the 30-27 win.

Willis previously went 2-0 while filling in for Love while he dealt with a knee injury earlier this season.

Love's groin injury is reportedly not expected to be a long-term issue, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky, but if he is still sidelined by Sunday it could be Willis getting the nod to start against the Detroit Lions in a game that will determine who leads the NFC North.

That game is followed by a Week 10 bye, giving Love more time to recover should he need it before the Packers return to action with another NFC North matchup against the Chicago Bears in Week 11.

The Packers acquired Willis from the Tennessee Titans in late August, trading a seventh-round 2025 pick to acquire the former Titans backup after neither Sean Clifford nor rookie Michael Pratt emerged as a reliable second-string option during the preseason.

Willis, who was slated for the No. 3 position in Tennessee behind Will Levis and Mason Rudolph, almost immediately assumed a more important role in Green Bay following Love's knee injury in the final 15 seconds of Week 1. His ability to lead the Packers to wins in three games during which Love has missed time has made the August trade arguably the Packers' most significant move of the offseason.

Head coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich tend to lean on the Packers' run game when Willis is playing under center, giving players like Josh Jacobs and Tucker Kraft more opportunities to run the ball and taking the pressure off the backup quarterback to take on Love's role of frequently attempting deep passes.

Willis still showed off his passing abilities last Sunday when he connected with Jayden Reed on a 51-yard pass to get the Packers within field goal range on the final drive.

LaFleur told reporters after the game that the play was an audible called by the backup.

"I'm so impressed by his ability to go in there mid-game," LaFleur said about Willis after the game. "It's just the moment is not too big for him, and I don't think that's the case for everybody."

LaFleur added: "There were some big time plays he made in that game. And I also think the belief that the team has in him and his ability to lead us. I think it's pretty evident when you watch us play."

The Lions and Packers kick off in Green Bay at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday. It sounds like the team will wait until closer to game time to make the call as to whether it will be Willis or Love under center for this division battle.