Packers GM doesn't sound like he needs to evaluate Jordan Love further in 2022

The Green Bay Packers aren't technically eliminated from playoff contention, and thus, Aaron Rodgers will continue to be the starter.

This is despite his ailing ribs and a broken thumb, of course. This is also despite the fact that his backup, Jordan Love, looked pretty darn good in relief action a few weeks ago.

Never mind that Rodgers has seemingly been mulling retirement for the past few offseasons (something that is seemingly becoming a rite of passage for Green Bay quarterbacks). Never mind the fact that the Packers spent massive draft capital on Love in 2020 and must eventually decide on whether or not to pick up his fifth-year option for the 2024 season.

Never mind the fact that Love is a first-round quarterback who has barely seen the field, and Green Bay's 5-8 season with little chance to make the playoffs would be the perfect opportunity to get him extended playing time and, thus, an honest evaluation. 

The Packers want to win. Not only do they believe they still have a chance (a 4% chance) but general manager Brian Gutekunst made it clear that he believes trying to win out this season is the right thing for the Packers to do. He also said, without saying it, that Rodgers — even an injured Rodgers — gives Green Bay the best chance to do just that.

"I think obviously if we get to that point, we'll kind of look at those things," Gutekunst said on Monday regarding the possibility of shutting Rodgers down (per ESPN's Rob Demovsky). "But I think no matter — even if we're eliminated from the playoffs, which it wouldn't be ideal — I said we're going to still go out to win the game, and I think that's really important. There's a bunch of guys in that locker room that deserve that, so we're going to go out to win the game and we're going to make the decisions that are in the best interests of us going and winning the game."

Notably, it doesn't sound as if Gutekunst even thinks he needs to evaluate Love any further. If that's the case, then, why not play the four-time MVP out for the rest of the season?

"I think that it would be really good for him — the growth that you need to go through, seeing things for the first time, making those mistakes that you need to make," Gutekunst said of Love playing more this season. "But I think from our end of it, we've seen what we need to see."

It's worth noting that Gutekunst did also say he believes Love is starter material as an NFL quarterback. It's clear the Packers feel honoring the commitment they made to Rodgers as well as his nearly 20 seasons with the franchise is more important than getting Love any more reps this season unless Rodgers himself decides to shut it down or another injury forces the future NFL Hall of Famer to do so.