A Green Bay Packers quarterback gets injured and will be out for 3-to-6 weeks? Somebody get ahold of Matt Flynn ASAP!
If you didn’t feel good about the Pack’s QB room after the last game of the preseason, nor after the trade for Malik Willis, you certainly don’t feel any better now.
Willis the Starter for the Foreseeable Future
The word on the street is that Willis is the starting QB for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, IF Jordan Love isn’t cleared to play in light of his MCL sprain he suffered in Brazil against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Packers’ first loss of the year.
Willis came in for one series under center in an attempt to get the Packers in the end zone, but ultimately SLIPPED (thanks NFL) and in turn got sacked as time expired.
Packers’ faithful hope that Willis has a story to tell on Sunday against the Colts as his NFL resume, though short as it is, isn’t very appealing.
In his tenure with the Tennessee Titans, Willis threw for just 35/66 completions for 350 yards, with a long of 48 and three interceptions. Besides leading the Titans to victory once in his three career starts, that’s about it.
The Packers head to Week 2 of the NFL season as the only winless team from the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions got impressive wins against the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams, respectively. The Chicago Bears and rookie QB Caleb Williams–led offense mustered 148 yards, throwing for 93, and scoring zero but got lucky with an imploding Tennessee team in a 24-17 win on Sunday. Yes, you read that correctly. Hopefully, you’re laughing too.
No Better Time Than Now
Wins in the NFL are tough to come by and seem rather impossible with a backup QB. If Willis has to start for a few weeks in a row, it couldn’t have come at a better time when the Packers’ schedule is arguably the easiest for the next three opponents in Indianapolis, Tennessee and Minnesota. Additionally, if Willis can throw for even 94 passing yards, a lot of Packers fans will run with that for the rest of the season.
The game won’t fall onto Willis’ shoulders alone. Josh Jacobs will look to get something going against a Colts’ defense that gave up 213 rushing yards to the Houston Texans on Sunday, and of course, Jeff Hafley’s defense should have a better game against a sophomore QB in Anthony Richardson who completed only nine of his 20 passes.
Not to be too harsh on Willis, but Week 2 will feature a new mini-era of Packers football. Fortunately, for the franchise banking on a potential third Hall of Fame QB in a row, this mini-era should be short-lived.
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