It might be time for a quarterback move in Green Bay.
Widespread reports on Saturday appeared to confirm the Packers fears that Jordan Love is facing a spell on the sidelines, after suffering a lower leg injury on Friday night.
The Packers kicked off their season in a thriller in Brazil, as the NFL made it’s first ever trip to the South American country.
Going down 34-29 was bad enough for Matt LeFleur’s team – widely regarded as Super Bowl contenders this season – but an injury to the starting quarterback doubled the disappointment.
While an ankle injury was initially ruled out, and then later on Saturday fears over a serious ACL injury put to one side.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport first reported the news that Love had suffered a sprained MCL, an injury that will keep him out of action for between three and six weeks.
Love was wrapped up when attempting to lead a drive down the field that could have won the game for the Packers in the final 30 seconds of the contest.
As he battled through the pocket, his leg twisted under the tacklers and footage later emerged that appeared to show his knee popping.
While serious injury now looks to have been ruled out, a strained MCL will still leave the Packers without their star man, who signed a new four-year $220m contract in the offseason after one season as the starter.
It leaves the franchise with a dilemma under center as Love was central to their plans.
The only back up to the 25-year-old is Malik Willis, who took the final snaps of the game in Sao Paulo but has only been with the team a matter of days after arriving in a trade from the Tennessee Titans.
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Green Bay are back in action next Sunday when they face the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field in Week 2 – but who will be starting quarterback remains to be seen.
The option of trading for someone may be seen as too much, certainly for an injury that may only keep Love out for three games.
Many observers felt the quarterback room was light even after trading for Willis and a veteran to beef up the resources was required.
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That now looks critical if the Packers want to keep alive their hopes in a competitive NFC North where Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota might all have differing hopes of a post season run.
Sean Clifford is known to the team and was named to the practise squad ahead of the Week 1 opener, but that is it on the depth chart.
The most obvious option open to Green Bay would appear to be Ryan Tannehill, who is a free agent after leaving the Titans at the end of last season.
Not only does he have 12 years of experience in the league, but he is well known to Willis from their time together in Tennessee, where they spent the last two seasons together.
Tannehill would be an able deputy for Love in the short-term, and an experienced backup in the medium term – a vital component for a team chasing a Super Bowl place.
The Packers were beaten in the Divisional Round last season by the San Francisco 49ers, and have been tipped by many to go at least one better this year.
However, if they are without Love for any amount of time, without a quality replacement they might be playing catchup before the season has barely begun.
Free agents Desmond Ridder and Trevor Siemian also have starting experience, while PJ Walker, CJ Beathard and Nate Sudfeld are also without a team.
Tannehill would help now, and would help a Super Bowl push.
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