For a while, it looked like Jordan Love might be thrust into the Green Bay Packers starting job this year, as Aaron Rodgers held out during the team’s offseason activities. Ultimately, Rodgers returned and will suit up for at least one more year.
Love probably would have relished the chance to start for one of the NFL’s most historic franchises this fall. Even so, he says he’s glad to have Rodgers back in the fold. Despite the drama of this offseason, the two both maintain that they have a strong relationship, with Love calling them “The Master and the Padawan” during a media session on Thursday.
“It’s obviously very great to have Aaron back just on this team,” Love said Thursday, via Sports Illustrated. “Obviously, he’s a huge presence at the quarterback position and in the locker room, as well, and then as a leader on the team, so it’s great to have him back.”
It seems like a pretty fair bet that Rodgers will be elsewhere next year, and if he’s ready, the job will be Love’s for 2022. He says that he was mentally prepared to take on that challenge this fall, if need be.
“The whole time I had to convince myself that I was going to be the starter. That’s how I looked at it the whole way. In my head, he wasn’t coming back, I’ve got to get myself ready to be the starter.”
– #Packers QB Jordan Love on his offseasonhttps://t.co/DYCs5OI5wC— Bill Huber (@BillHuberSI) August 5, 2021
Jordan Love will have an opportunity to show what he can do in live game action this summer. He missed out on that opportunity last year, with the cancellation of the 2020 preseason, and it is unlikely that the Packers play Aaron Rodgers much this summer.
The Green Bay Packers open the 2021 preseason on Saturday, Aug. 14 against the Houston Texans. That will be Love’s first game action, if all goes according to plan.
“I’m super excited for it,” the young QB said on Thursday. “The last time I played a game was the Senior Bowl coming out of college. Over a year and a half ago, I think. I’m super excited. This is the moment I’ve been preparing for even since last year. It’s almost like I’ve been training a year just for this first preseason game. I’m super excited to get out there and get back to playing ball.”
The two sides kick off at 8 p.m. ET in just over a week.
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