Fresh off a bye week, Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Jordan Love is now sidelined.
Green Bay announced on Monday that the 2020 first-round pick has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
“Per agreed-upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on a player’s medical status other than referring to roster status,” the Packers stated, via their official website. “Being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list is for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been in close contact with an infected person or persons.”
It must be noted that Love has indeed been vaccinated. Otherwise, he would have missed time earlier this season after being a close contact with starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who tested positive for the virus as an unvaccinated entity. While we’ll refrain from making guesses, there’s a chance he’s a breakthrough case.
Rodgers recently noted that he’s dealing with a fractured toe. In fact, the reigning NFL MVP was seen in Southern California during the bye week meeting with the Los Angeles Rams’ lead doctor.
“Rodgers was seen walking with Dr. Neal S. ElAttrache in the parking lot outside the offices of Kerlan-Jobe orthopedics. ElAttrache is a specialist in sports medicine as well as shoulder, elbow and knee injuries. He’s the chairman of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Foundation and the head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams,” Ryan Gaydos of Fox 6 in Milwaukee noted over the weekend.
With Rodgers not at practice, Kurt Benkert will likely take first-team reps during the week. Meanwhile, there’s a good chance veteran Blake Bortles will once again be signed off the street.
At this point, there’s no telling whether Love or Rodgers will be available for Green Bay’s matchup against the Chicago Bears Sunday night.
The Packers find themselves at 9-3 on the season and are in a heated battle with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. That would come with a first-round bye.
Following their game against Chicago, the Packers play three consecutive outings against playoff hopefuls in the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings before closing up shop against the Detroit Lions.
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