he Green Bay Packers, and the fans, were excited to finally see Jordan Love on the field in last week’s preseason opener.
He was taken in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and everyone wanted to see what Aaron Rodgers‘ supposed successor could do.
What he did was go 12/17 for 122 yards and a touchdown.
The Packers lost the game, but it was the preseason so no one cared.
Love was supposed to be the focal point under center all preseason and likely start all three games.
The plans have now changed because Love is dealing with a shoulder injury.
#Packers QB Jordan Love is unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game vs. the #Jets due to a shoulder injury suffered last week. Kurt Benkert would be the next man up.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 19, 2021
Even if it is minor, the Packers are smart to keep him on the sidelines.
He Remains An Important Piece
The Packers will go as far as Rodgers takes them in 2021.
Still, Love is the primary backup and if anything happened to Rodgers, the team would expect the former first-rounder to step in and live up to his billing.
Kurt Benkert is not leading the Packers to a Super Bowl.
Love may already be starting if he was drafted by nearly any other team.
First-round quarterbacks don’t usually sit on the sidelines for long, unless they are drafted by the Packers organization.
It may sound silly to some fans to say the team has to protect Love in the preseason.
Yet it makes no logical sense for any player to push through an injury so early in the year.
This is a wise precaution on all sides if Love does indeed miss this weekend’s game.
Jordan Love is “unlikely” to play Saturday against the Jets, Matt LaFleur says. Kurt Benkert would start.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 19, 2021
His Inherent Value
Let’s say, somehow, the Packers and Rodgers come to a multi-year agreement following the season and everything is sunshine and roses.
It is unlikely, but still possible.
Love could always be offered up in trades, with his rare sightings serving as a bonus to the Packers given he plays well.
The team would then ride with Rodgers and find a new replacement down the line.
Of course, Rodgers’ anger in the first place comes from the fact the team used a first-round pick on a quarterback when they were chasing a Super Bowl with him.
Drafting a player who was at literally any other position would have helped the team more in the present.
So it may be too late, and trading Love would only prove Rodgers’ point once again.
This is a problem to worry about in 2022.
In the now, keeping Love safe and healthy should remain a priority.
NEXT: 3 Quarterbacks Green Bay Packers Can Add In 2022