Jordan Love was put into a very tough spot this past week thanks to Aaron Rodgers testing positive for COVID-19 and being unvaccinated.
The Green Bay Packers were forced to go with Love at quarterback and the result was a 13-7 loss on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He did throw a late touchdown, but the debut was not a great one.
Fans on social media had mixed feelings about the rough debut.
*Davante Adams running wide open*
Jordan Love: pic.twitter.com/y5AnT5iEuH
— Dummy Sports (@sumdummmy) November 7, 2021
I don’t know why Justin Fields and Jordan Love are getting compared, but one had 15 months & 2 off-seasons to prep for their first start while the other got 2nd team reps in one training camp.
Might as well be apples and oranges imho.
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) November 8, 2021
Packers fans:
“Justin Fields has plenty of time, he stinks!”
Currently Packers fans:
“Jordan Love hasn’t had enough time!”
— Bears Nation (3-5) (@BearsNationCHI) November 8, 2021
A Difficult Day
Love finished 19/34 for 190 yards and a touchdown.
His main problem came with hitting his receivers in stride.
The Packers offense is based on perfect timing because Rodgers is so elite.
Davante Adams basically didn't practice this week coming off the COVID list. He wasn't at OTA's when Jordan Love got all the reps.
It can't be surprising they have no chemistry. They've never played together.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) November 8, 2021
Jordan Love just had Davante Adams wide open for a touchdown and couldn’t even keep the pass in bounds
— Frankie (@Andrew08979120) November 8, 2021
Devante Adams w/Aaron Rodgers = Hall of Famer
Devante Adams w/Jordan Love = Terry McLaurin
— RefTheDistrict (@RefTheDistrict) November 8, 2021
Davante Adams and Love just did not have that chemistry and that should have been obvious to head coach Matt LaFleur.
But this was a tough week for all involved and Love still did connect with Adams six times for 42 yards.
Jordan Love when he’s asked to complete a pass pic.twitter.com/lu8FDC6N65
— Chaps (@UncleChaps) November 7, 2021
A Tough Situation
Love was immediately put on a clock by the Packers the moment he was drafted in the first round.
Expectations are thus high because of his draft slot, regardless of whether he was truly worth such a high pick.
Not sure what Aaron Rodgers was so upset about after the 2020 draft. Jordan Love is giving him job security.
— Kelly (@kellyinvegas) November 7, 2021
Packers decided to draft Jordan love in the first round instead of another skill position for this ?! pic.twitter.com/oEhPZg2MVY
— Orbein (@Obizzle305) November 7, 2021
Say Jordan Love does still need time to develop. How much time? The Packers have to decide on his fifth-year option after next year. Either he sits behind Rodgers again in 2022, or he has one year to put enough on tape for the team to feel comfortable. It was a stupid draft pick
— Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n) November 8, 2021
The Packers declared him the quarterback of the future at a time when they already had a legendary quarterback on the roster.
Sound familiar?
To be fair to Love, if he is given a chance to be the full-time starter he will get more preparation than he did for Sunday’s game.
Yet that won’t stop the social media chatter about the Packers potentially making a huge mistake and only complicating things with Rodgers further.
#Packers gonna miss out on 3-4 years of Aaron Rodgers because they just HAD to draft Jordan Love.
— Pete (@draftcheat) November 7, 2021
The Love pick was controversial at the time and is only under a larger microscope after his first start.
If all goes well for the Packers the rest of the way, he won’t take the field again this season.
NEXT: Grading Jordan Love's First NFL Start