Packers' Jordan Love to Get Surgery on Thumb Injury, Expected to Return Next Week

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced Tuesday that quarterback Jordan Love is set to undergo a procedure to correct a thumb injury on his non-throwing hand.

Gutekunst told reporters that Love is dealing with a "ligament issue," and he added that the team is hopeful he will be able to return to practice next week.

The timeline suggests Love will not be available to play in the Packers' preseason road game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Gutekunst divulged that Love tore a ligament in his left thumb when he hit it on a helmet while taking a sack during Green Bay's 30-10 loss to the New York Jets in its preseason opener.

Despite that, Gutekunst said Love "shouldn't miss any regular-season time."

In the Packers' preseason game against the Jets, Love got the start and struggled, going 1-of-5 for seven yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, while getting sacked once.

The 26-year-old Love was originally the No. 26 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft out of Utah State, and he spent his first three NFL seasons sitting and learning behind future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.

Prior to the 2023 campaign, the Packers traded Rodgers to the Jets, which paved the way for Love to take over as the new starter.

He instantly delivered, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while also rushing for 247 yards and four scores in his first full season as a starter.

The Packers went 9-8 and reached the playoffs as well, and Love led them to an upset win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Round before they narrowly fell to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.

Expectations were through the roof for Love and the Packers entering last season, and while Love went 9-6 as the starter and took them back to the playoffs, he undoubtedly regressed in terms of his own individual play.

In 15 games last season, Love completed 63.1 percent of his passing attempts for 3,389 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 picks, and he rushed for only 83 yards and one touchdown.

A strong argument can be made for the idea that Love's step backward last season had much to do with the fact that he sprained his MCL in the Packers' season opener.

Love missed two games as a result, and while he returned in Week 4 and played out the rest of the season, he didn't look like the same player he was in 2023, and his mobility was undoubtedly compromised.

Now, Love is dealing with a completely different type of injury that could impact him in other ways.

As a right-handed quarterback, left thumb surgery shouldn't affect Love's throwing much, but it could make taking snaps under center a challenge.

Love has until Sept. 7 to be ready, as that is when the Packers open up their regular-season slate against the Detroit Lions.

Until Love is able to return to action, backup Malik Willis figures to take the first-team reps in practice, and he is potentially in line to start the team's preseason game against the Colts on Saturday.