Packers' Malik Willis practice update comes with silver lining 1 Dec 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) runs for a first down against Chicago Bears defensive end Dominique Robinson (90) during their football game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers

Packers’ Malik Willis practice update comes with silver lining

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By John Sbisa | Last updated Dec 24, 2025 2:25 PM ET

Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis is not practicing Wednesday, reported ESPN’s Robert Demovsky, but it isn’t due to the shoulder injury he sustained last week in Chicago. Instead, Willis is sidelined because of an illness. Hopefully he feels better, but for the Packers, that’s a much more welcome explanation for his absence. With starter Jordan Love in concussion protocol, they may need Willis available this Saturday versus the Ravens.

Willis, Love remain questionable for Saturday

Love, for his part, did take reps in Wednesday’s session, a good sign after Love left last Saturday’s game following a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bears defensive end Austin Booker. The play drew a roughing the passer penalty and resulted in a concussion for Love.

Willis finished the game in his place, but not without taking some attrition of his own. After a hard hit as he released the ball from the pocket, Willis got up grimacing. Warming up on the sidelines during Chicago’s next drive, his mechanics were visibly affected as he tested out the shoulder in a session of catch.

Willis returned to the game and delivered several A-plus throws, but the Packers confirmed afterward that he was dealing with a shoulder injury. They began the week with both quarterbacks questionable for Week 17 against the Ravens.

Hopefully they will have at least one of them available. Even if Love does not clear concussion protocol, Willis is one of the league’s best backups when healthy – better than a good number of other teams’ current starters. Trotting him out to start the game would not be the worst thing in the world. Right now, though, Love seems to be on the right track.

Baltimore is facing its own quarterback uncertainty after Lamar Jackson left Sunday Night Football with a back injury. He did not practice on Wednesday. If Jackson does not suit up Saturday in Green Bay, the Packers will face Tyler Huntley instead. Like Willis, Huntley is a QB2 who can hold his own and has kept his team afloat on multiple occasions over the years with Jackson out injured.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: