Jordan Love’s Packers teammates talk about his absence from training

July 23, 2024

GREEN BAY – It was Sunday morning when Sean Clifford heard that the start of his second NFL training camp would be a little different than expected.

All last season, Clifford prepared as if he was going to be the starter and back up Jordan Love. It’s a whole different reality to make those first-team appearances. But after Love’s agent informed the team that the Green Bay Packers quarterback would not practice until a contract extension was finalized, Clifford was making first-team appearances Monday morning.

“He gave me a little warning,” Clifford said. “He said it Saturday night and then Sunday morning. He gave me a kind of preview of what he was thinking. He obviously wanted to be out there. He was pushing to get out there. I don’t even think it’s him. It’s more like other people making sure he’s taken care of and the organization doing their due diligence as well.

“But he gave me a little warning and just said, ‘Hey, just be ready.'”

It’s unclear when Love will return to the practice field, as the current status of his contract negotiations with the team is unknown. General manager Brian Gutekunst said he was “optimistic” the deal could happen soon. Reaching an agreement with Love will be the front office’s sole priority after the Packers extended defensive lineman Kenny Clark’s contract over the weekend.

Love reported to his fellow quarterbacks, rookies and injured players on Wednesday, five days before Monday’s opening practice. Two sources said the Packers could penalize Love, but that is not mandatory since the quarterback has reported to training camp. A team source told PackersNews that Love will not be penalized for missing practice. Love did not speak to the media on Monday and it is unclear if he will do so before an extension is agreed to.

He was active behind the scenes and attended meetings. Love is not just practice.

“I know how he prepares,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “So I’m not too worried about it. He’s going to do everything he can to get the mental reps. Of course, the physical reps are important.”

It helps that Love is inheriting the same receiver group that surrounded him last season during his emergence as one of the NFL’s most promising young quarterbacks. His chemistry with Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft and the others is light years better than it was a year ago.

Even on Monday, Watson said Love was busy at practice.

“He’s exactly the same as he’s always been,” Watson said. “It’s no surprise that he still comes to the meetings, still does everything, still comes by after a replay and talks about a route even when he’s not out there.”

Running back Josh Jacobs is the one who benefits most from having Love on the field during training camp. Jacobs said trust is the most important thing for him in a quarterback, but he also said Love quickly built a solid relationship with him off the field as well. Love was the one Jacobs consulted when he was looking for a place to live in Green Bay.

Jacobs isn’t worried about Love’s absence from practice. And neither is the rest of the Packers’ offense. Of course, things can always change.

“I think we’re pretty good,” Jacobs said. “Jordan and I play outside of football, too. We talk – even about helping me find a house and all that stuff – we talk about a lot of things. From a mental standpoint, he’s as sharp as he can be. So I think not getting in there and throwing isn’t really going to change his game. He’s still out there watching everything, he’s still studying film and developing and reading all that stuff, so I think he’s going to be OK.

“I can’t really speak for him and say how he feels, but as an outsider I think he deserves what he gets.”

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