Ravens Insider: Packers QB Jordan Love ruled out vs. Ravens with concussion

[ExtremeRavens]

In a must-win game for the Ravens, they’ll be facing a backup quarterback.

The Green Bay Packers ruled out starter Jordan Love with a concussion after he took a helmet-to-helmet hit during Saturday’s loss to the Chicago Bears. Malik Willis is expected to start.

Love was limited in practice all week as he went through the league’s concussion protocol. He was initially ruled questionable to play on Thursday, but the Packers (9-5-1) downgraded him to out Friday afternoon. This will be the first full game that Love has missed this season.

Willis, 26, completed 9 of 11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown and rushed 10 times for 44 yards in relief of Love in Chicago. He injured his right throwing shoulder near the end of the 22-16 overtime loss and was limited in practice this week while also missing Wednesday’s session with an illness. He’s listed as questionable.

A 2022 third-round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans, Willis has completed 64.9% of his passes for 1,034 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for 345 yards on 65 carries in 21 games. He’s 3-2 in his career as a starter, including 2-0 with Green Bay when Love was injured early last season.

Green Bay’s only other quarterback is Clayton Tune, who was signed to the practice squad in late August. Tune has appeared in 13 games but has made just one career start, with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023.

The Ravens could also be turning to backup Tyler Huntley with Lamar Jackson listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game.

Coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that Jackson could play even without practicing all week.

“He’s played a lot of football, won a lot of games for us. … If he can go, he will go,” said Harbaugh, who described the injury that Jackson suffered after taking a knee to the back from Patriots safety Craig Woodson as a “deep tissue contusion.”

Huntley last started in Week 8 and led Baltimore to a 30-16 win over the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium while Jackson was still out with a hamstring injury that sidelined the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player for three games. In four appearances this season, Huntley has completed 76.6% of his passes for 319 yards and a touchdown. He has also rushed for 91 yards on 16 carries.

Baltimore (7-8) needs to win Saturday and have the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) lose to the Cleveland Browns (3-12) on Sunday to have a chance at winning the AFC North in Week 18. A win by the Steelers, who are 3-point favorites in Cleveland, would eliminate the Ravens from postseason contention.

The Packers clinched a playoff spot Thursday when the Detroit Lions lost, 23-10, at Minnesota, but they still have incentive to keep winning to try improving their seeding. They can win the NFC North if they win their last two games and Chicago drops its final two games.

The Associated Press contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon.

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