The Green Bay Packers veterans reported to training camp on July 27.
Among those reporting was quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Welcome back. Looking better than ever. @AaronRodgers12 pic.twitter.com/RTXtebPBmj
— Brian Baumgartner (@BBBaumgartner) July 27, 2021
After a tumultuous offseason when no one precisely knew what he would do, he has to decided to show up for work because the Packers and Rodgers apparently are ironing out a deal for him to leave after the 2021 season.
The new agreement, once finalized, would help set up Aaron Rodgers’ departure from Green Bay after this season, per sources. https://t.co/NojVojcHjy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2021
While this temporary impasse in the situation with Rodgers is good for the Packers in general, it is not a good situation for backup quarterback Jordan Love.
Here are the reasons why Love has been dealt an unlovable hand by the Packers.
3. Rodgers Is The Man For 2021
**Jordan Love training for the whole offseason preparing to be the quarterback**
Aaron Rodgers walking into camp: pic.twitter.com/LL6Jna20LK
— DailySportsDosage (@SportsDSD_) July 27, 2021
While there were indications that Love is not yet ready to fill Rodgers’ shoes, he had an opportunity to earn the job in camp until the news about Rodgers broke.
Love has reportedly been working very hard in the offseason to be ready.
However, he ends up being the odd man out.
Jordan Love to Aaron Rodgers right now pic.twitter.com/66nY2af7v4
— illwill (Justin Fields Stan Account) (@79illwill) July 26, 2021
Love needed training camp to work on his game whereas Rodgers needs nothing to be ready to go.
Training camp may have given us indications of where Love is in his development.
The silver lining is that Love’s situation is not as bad as Blake Bortles’.
With Aaron Rodgers back in Green Bay, the Packers are releasing veteran QB Blake Bortles, per @RobDemovsky.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2021
2. Love’s Future Is Uncertain In 2022
It is not immediately clear that Love has a path to the starting quarterback job for the Packers in 2022.
The Packers’ season ended up one game short of the Super Bowl last season.
If Rodgers leads the Packers to a Super Bowl victory this season, this “deal” between Rodgers and the Packers to leave at the end of this season could certainly be voided.
Why would either Rodgers or the Packers want to part ways if the team becomes Super Bowl champions?
This whole issue with Rodgers has to do with where he is in his career and his desire to win another championship.
If leaving the Packers ends up not being his best path to a Super Bowl, this leaves Love out in the cold again.
And the other assumption by Packers is that Jordan Love will be ready to start in Green Bay for the 2022 season. https://t.co/PCwlKGaUSn
— Pigskin Paul (@PigskinPaul) July 26, 2021
My suspicion is that Jordan Love isn't the next Aaron Rodgers because if that was the case, the Packers front office would have seen Love in practice this year and fell in love and then looked to trade Rodgers right after the season when his value was the highest
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) May 7, 2021
1. Love Is Not Getting QB1 Snaps
Yes, this is obvious.
With Rodgers back, Love will not get the QB1 snaps.
The problem with this is no one outside of Green Bay (or perhaps even within the organization) knows how good Love is.
He has never played a snap in a regular season game.
Will we even see him in the preseason this year?
Is he the right player to take over after Rodgers?
Let’s be clear, the Packers botched up the transition between Brett Favre and Rodgers; however, Rodgers seemed like more of a sure bet as the heir apparent than Love does at this point.
Conclusion
The Packers managed to kick the can down the road until the beginning of the 2022 season with this arrangement with Rodgers.
However, it puts Jordan Love in an uncomfortable holding pattern; he does not know when or if he will ever be the starting quarterback for the Packers.
