GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers and Jordan Love may be close to reaching an agreement on a contract extension, but until that happens, the starting quarterback will not participate in practices or any games this preseason.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Monday shortly before the team's first training camp practice that Love's representatives informed him Saturday night of his plans before a deal was finalized.
“We fully understand where he's coming from,” Gutekunst said.
Love reported to training camp on time and participated in meetings and other training camp activities except for practices. Previously, Love participated in the entire preseason program and the team's mandatory minicamp in June to qualify for a $500,000 workout bonus.
Asked if an extension could be finalised within days, Gutekunst said: “Yes, I think so, but again, you never know. We are working very hard to achieve it. At the same time, what I am sure of is that we both want the same thing.”
The Packers have no immediate plans to add another quarterback. Coach Matt LaFleur said second-year player Sean Clifford will take the first snaps with the starters, but reps will be split 50-50 between Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt. LaFleur said former NFL quarterback Sean Mannion, who was hired as an assistant coach this offseason, will help with throws during practice work.
Asked how long they can sustain that situation without adding a third quarterback, LaFleur said: “It's a big question. Obviously, we're hopeful that we can accomplish something here down the road … sooner rather than later. But that's something we'll have to adjust on the fly.”
LaFleur said he wasn't immediately concerned that Love and the offense would lose the momentum they had built last season and in the offseason program.
“I know how he prepares,” LaFleur said. “So I'm not too worried about it.”
Love did not speak to reporters as the Packers' starting quarterback normally would after the first practice of training camp. But Clifford, who was Love's backup last season, said Love had hinted to him over the weekend that he might not be fit to practice when camp started.
“Obviously, he wanted to be there, he's been pushing to be there,” Clifford said. “I don't even think it's him. It's more just other people making sure he's taken care of. The organization is doing it, too. They're doing their due diligence. He gave me a little heads up and said, 'Hey, just be prepared.'”
Clifford, who threw touchdown passes to Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks in Monday's practice, indicated he thinks this could be a short-term situation.
“I don't think it's going to take a long time,” Clifford said. “It's just what he has to do now. But again, this speaks volumes: He's not in California, he's here. I got here at 7 o'clock. His bag was already here. He's coming in early, staying late. He's doing all the little things, so the players don't have to worry, that's for sure.”
Without a new deal, Love would have made just $11 million this season in the final year of a mini-extension he signed last May. That deal added one year — the 2024 season — to his rookie contract. It was in lieu of the team exercising the fifth-year option on that deal. At the time, Green Bay gave Love a signing bonus of $8,788,655. His base salary for last season was $1.01 million.
Love is now eyeing one of the league's richest contracts and appears likely to join the $50 million-a-year club. The most recent quarterback deal was Trevor Lawrence's with the Jacksonville Jaguars in June. It's a five-year, $275 million deal that includes $200 million in guarantees. At $55 million a year, Lawrence and the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow are tied for the highest average salary in the league.
Love threw for 4,159 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. He was one of four quarterbacks in 2023 to rank in the top 10 in passing touchdowns (second behind the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott), passing yards (seventh) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (seventh).
Love started all 17 games, and after a 2-5 start, the Packers went 9-8 to make the playoffs. Love led them to a wild-card round win over the Dallas Cowboys, in which he threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions, before a divisional round loss to the San Francisco 49ers, which ended with Love's interception on the final offensive drive.
