The preseason is over, and fans all over the world are gearing up for the NFL season.
The Packers finished the preseason with a 2-1 record, winning games over the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens, while losing to the Denver Broncos.
Green Bay’s first game of the preseason was against the Browns and featured something that Packers fans aren’t totally used to — the starters playing in the game.
While starters have played in the past, the quarterback has always been the position that Green Bay has been cautious with. Given Aaron Rodgers’ pedigree, it didn’t make much sense for him to play in the preseason. Now that he is the highest paid player in NFL history, Jordan Love somewhat slides into that position. Fans did get to see a little Love in the first game though.
After two touches from Josh Jacobs to open the game, Love connected with Dontayvion Wicks on the third play of the game for a 65-yard touchdown. That was all Green Bay needed to see out of Love, as the Green Bay starting quarterback finished the 2024 preseason with a statline of 2-for-2 with 63 yards and a touchdown.
“I am happy with the touchdown, that was the goal,” said Love, after the first game. “We wanted to go out there, get our series and put up points. I was happy with the way I went out.”
That was all of the time that Love saw this preseason, and with what Green Bay coaches saw out of the Utah State alum to end the year last season, that is all that was really needed.
As far as the rest of the preseason, Emanuel Wilson led the team in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns as he fought hard to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Malik Heath led the team in receiving yards with 83 and tied for the lead in touchdowns with one.
As for passing, it was Sean Clifford who led Green Bay with 207 yards and one touchdown, while Michael Pratt finished with 178 yards and one touchdown.
Throughout training camp and the preseason, the big story in Green Bay would be who will sit behind Love on the depth chart. After Clifford and Pratt struggled at times in the preseason, general manager Brian Gutekunst outsourced the position and traded for Tennessee Titans backup quarterback Malik Willis.
“I am a Packer now, that’s what it is,” said Willis.
Bringing Willis on late in the summer will force the third year quarterback to learn quickly and be ready in the event that Love cannot finish or suit up for a game.
“I think that I am going to take this thing day by day and do what I can to prepare myself to be in position,” said Willis. “It is a quick turnaround, (I am going to) do my best to learn this offense, be prepared to back up Jordan and do whatever I can to help this organization and this team.”
The low point of the Packers preseason was its second game in Denver. Green Bay elected not to play its starters on either side of the ball, while Denver did the opposite. This led to a 27-2 victory in favor of the Broncos.
“I think that it is a good lesson for our guys in terms of it doesn’t matter who is out there — if you don’t put your best foot forward each and every time you go out onto that field, these things happen to you,” said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur after the game.
The Packers mustered just 168 total yards in the game with just 69 in the first half. It is easy to write this loss off to backups playing against starters, but LaFleur is right in saying that every time you are on the field, it has to be a fight. There was not much of a fight in Green Bay in this game.
A silver lining to this game though was the opportunity for coaches to evaluate positional battles, most notably the backup quarterback position and the kicker position. While no one in either battle will suit for the Packers this season, sometimes less is better.
Finally, the Packers closed out the preseason with a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. This was a final performance for those making the roster. One name that stood out in this game was defensive lineman Arron Mosby. Looking to make the final push to make the team, Mosby forced a fumble and intercepted a pass, which ultimately led to a spot on the 53-man roster.
Green Bay pulled out a 30-7 victory and put a bright close to the 2024 preseason.
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