Jordan Love will not attend Packers training camp without a contract

Jordan Love and the Packers have not yet agreed to a contract extension. Unsurprisingly, the up-and-coming quarterback will not attend training camp until a contract is finalized.

Love’s camp informed the Packers’ general manager Brian Gutekunst on Sunday that he would not take the field until an extension agreement is reached (h/t Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal). Love will participate in a hold-in by attending camp and opting not to participate in practices. The increasingly common strategy avoids incurring fines, which is what happens with holdouts.

“I think so, but you never know.” Gutekunst said (about Wilde) when asked if a deal could be finalized in the near future. “We’re working really hard to make that happen. It’s really important to us.”

Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms that both parties remain confident a deal will be reached shortly. Finances (as opposed to factors like guarantees, term and cash flow) are considered the biggest remaining issue in the case, as the Packers weigh the risks of investing in Love after less than one strong season against the costs of waiting for him to continue to increase his value. In a public speech on Monday, Gutekunst noted (via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette) that the salary cap impact of a mega-deal is the main reason for the ongoing delay.

Teams with big QB commitments are actually forced to make a number of important decisions at other positions. The Packers will still have a low-cost offense at the receiver and tight end positions given their recent draft commitments when Love (who will make a $10.5 million salary this year) signs his next contract, but remaining flexible beyond 2024 is a major consideration on the team’s part. Still, Gutekunst’s comments suggest Love will be the next signal-caller to land a lucrative new contract.

The 2020 first-round pick was long expected to command an AAV of over $50 million despite only being acquired as a starter at the beginning of last season. His strong finish to the season put him firmly in Green Bay’s long-term plans, and both the team and player remained confident that an agreement would be reached before today. That hasn’t come to pass, but Love’s continued absence from practice could be another incentive to get a deal over the finish line.