Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Keys to Packers QB Jordan Love's final preseason start

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 8/21/23

What new Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love needs is experience, and that's exactly what head coach Matt LaFleur is intent on giving him this preseason.

No, Love hasn't been playing the whole game—barely a quarter—but he's started both of Green Bay's preseason games so far, and LaFleur recently said that he'll play in the preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.

Matt LaFleur on decision to dress Jordan Love for preseason finale vs. Seahawks: "He's going to play."

Why?

"I don't believe you can give a young guy in that position enough reps."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 20, 2023

Now that we know Love is playing, what exactly does he have to do in order for LaFleur and the Packers to feel confident heading into their regular season opener against the Chicago Bears?

Stay healthy

This is priority No. 1 for the whole roster, but especially for Love. General manager Brian Gutekunst didn't just trade away four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers only to see Love miss the entirety of 2023 because of a preseason injury.

More than anything, Love needs to stay healthy. That means throwing the ball away when he's in danger, sliding and even letting a fumble be a fumble. It's preseason after all.

Keep throwing a clean football

Love hasn't been perfect this preseason, but he has shown flashes of brilliance. In two games, he's 12-of-18 for 130 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

That last stat is most important for Green Bay, especially as he continues to get comfortable as a starting quarterback. He'll likely never have Rodgers' touchdown-to-interception ratio, but young quarterbacks start getting into trouble when they start throwing the ball away.

If Love plays in three games and gets out of it unscathed interception-wise, that would be huge for the Packers.

Continue developing chemistry

The Packers have a young offense, but it's brimming with potential. One or both of second-year wideouts Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs should break out as a star this season. The Packers are also extremely high on rookie tight end Luke Musgrave and rookie wideout Jayden Reed.

The more Love gets on the same page with these four players, the better Green Bay will be in 2023 and in the future.

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