9/10/24 Hometown Broadcasting Sports Tuesday
10 September 2024 Sports
From Wayne Mausser:
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur says the team doesn’t plan to put Jordan Love on injured reserve, an indication the quarterback could return relatively soon.
Love injured his left medial collateral ligament in the final minute of the Packers’ season-opening 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday in Brazil. If the Packers placed Love on injured reserve, he would have to miss at least four games.
LaFleur provided even more optimism while describing the Packers’ quarterback situation for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts (0-1). Although the MCL injury is expected to sideline Love for multiple games, LaFleur said Monday the Packers would start Malik Willis with Sean Clifford as the backup “if Jordan’s not cleared.”
Love’s injury occurred on the third-to-last play of the Eagles game after he threw a backward pass to Josh Jacobs while facing major pressure from Philadelphia’s Jalen Carter and Josh Sweat. Carter was lying down and had a hold of Love’s left leg when Sweat pushed the quarterback to the ground.
LaFleur acknowledged feeling relieved Love’s injury wasn’t more serious. Love, 25, signed a four-year, $220 million contract extension this summer after leading the NFL’s youngest team to a 10-9 record and NFC divisional playoff appearance as a first-year starter last season.
Willis had played the final two snaps of the Eagles game after Love’s departure.
The Packers acquired Willis from the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 seventh-round pick in a trade that was announced Aug. 27. Willis has picked up the offense fast enough to get the nod ahead of Clifford, the Packers’ 2023 fifth-round pick from Penn State.
Willis might not be quite as familiar with the system as Clifford, but the 2022 third-round pick from Liberty has more game experience. Willis made three starts his rookie season, though he didn’t throw for as many as 100 yards in any of them. Clifford has thrown one career regular-season pass.
The Packers cut Clifford and quarterback Michael Pratt — a rookie seventh-round selection from Tulane — the day they announced the acquisition of Willis. They later brought Clifford back onto their practice squad.
LaFleur said the Packers didn’t seriously consider signing another quarterback after Love’s injury.
The Packers are off today before starting practice for the Colts on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
In Monday Night Football the 49ers dominated in a 32-19 home victory over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. Despite playing without Christian McCaffrey, the reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the year, but Jordan Mason filled in and put on an impressive performance.
Mason carried the ball an eye-popping 28 times for 147 yards and a 5-yard touchdown in the third quarter that pushed San Francisco’s lead to 23-7. His 28 carries were the most for any back in Kyle Shanahan’s time as 49ers head coach, per NFL Research.
Boasting power and shiftiness, Mason was the catalyst for a Niners offensive attack that came back from a 7-3 first-quarter deficit with 23 straight points on five consecutive drives to put the game out of reach.
McCaffrey didn’t have a setback with his calf/Achilles injury, but that his calf was bothering him too much on Monday to play.
The 49ers Brock Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Jauan Jennings caught 5 passes 64 yards for San Francisco and Jake Moody kicked six field goals.
The Jets Aaron Rogers was 13 of 21 for 167 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Tyrod Taylor was 6 for 8 for 36 yards and a touchdcown.
Wide receiver Allen Lazard caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
The Brewers were off Monday and tonight begin a three-game series in San Francisco against the Giants. RHP Aaron Civale is scheduled to start for Milwaukee while the Giants have not yet announced a starter. First pitch is at 8:45 CDT.
In games played Monday in the NL Central the Cubs pounded the Dodgers 10-4, the Reds shutout the Braves 1-0 and the Pirates nipped the Marlins 3-2. The Brewers lead the Cubs by 8 ½ games, the Cardinals by 10, while the Reds are 13 games out the Pirates are 14 ½ games behind.
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