The Packers’ quest to take over the NFC North lead on Saturday needed to continue without Jordan Love.
Green Bay’s star quarterback exited with a concussion in the second quarter and was officially ruled out after halftime following a crushing hit from the Bears’ Austin Booker.
With the Packers at their own 17-yard line, Love dropped back to pass on first down and was sacked by Booker, who drew a flag for roughing the passer on the snap.
Love appeared to lower his head while trying to escape the pocket, and Booker’s helmet made contact with it.
After being examined by trainers, Love walked back toward the locker room, and he was ruled out before the third quarter began.
That meant Malik Willis — the former third-round pick by the Titans in his second season as the Packers’ backup quarterback — took over for the remainder of the game, and he finished 9-of-11 for 121 yards and a touchdown pass.
Willis has been forced into games for the Packers previously, appearing in seven last year and starting two while collecting 550 passing yards and four total touchdowns.
Love went 8-of-13 for 77 before leaving the game.
That became even more complicated with Chicago’s stunning 22-16 win in overtime on Saturda night, when they erased a 10-point deficit in the final minutes of the fourth quarter before Caleb Williams and DJ Moore connected on a 46-yard touchdown pass to win the game.
But in the bigger picture, Love’s absence would be devastating for Green Bay in the stretch run of the regular season, as it’ll host the Ravens next week before closing the slate on the road against the Vikings.
Love entered Saturday night’s showdown with 3,304 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns and six interceptions for the 9-5-1 Packers, who had won four of their last five games before Saturday’s loss to their division rival. With the win, the Bears improved to 11-4 and are now in firm control of the NFC North.
And Love isn’t the first star they have lost to injury recently.
The Packers lost star edge rusher Micah Parsons for the year last weekend due to a torn ACL, too.
One week later, head coach Matt LaFleur needs to navigate a quarterback dilemma, too.
