Packers QB coach preaches patience with Jordan Love

Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements returned to the Green Bay Packers last year to work with Aaron Rodgers but is now tasked with getting Jordan Love ready to replace the future Hall of Famer. 

"I don’t think you can put a time on it," Clements responded when asked how long it might take for the Packers to know if Love is or isn't their quarterback for the future, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. 

Love, a first-round pick from the 2020 draft, attempted a total of 83 career regular-season passes as a pro before Rodgers orchestrated his move from the Packers to the New York Jets this spring. While Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst admitted earlier this month that "there’s a lot of unknowns" regarding the 24-year-old serving as a full-time NFL QB1, Clements listed the traits Love possesses to succeed at the highest level. 

"He can throw the ball, number one," Clements explained. "Which he needs to do in the NFL. He’s good athletic. He can move around, buy time. And he’s intelligent. He generally makes good decisions, and at this point just needs to play, work on processing information, making good decisions and getting it to the right guy. He has all the qualities you’re looking for in a guy to be successful." 

Love's performance at the Philadelphia Eagles this past November left Rodgers feeling like a proud "older brother" and clearly impressed Clements. In relief of an injured Rodgers, Love completed six of nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown against the eventual NFC champions. 

Clements said that Love's play versus Philadelphia "helped his confidence" and also "helped the confidence of the guys around him." Packers running back Aaron Jones previously made it known Love won the "full trust" of teammates while waiting for his moment to replace Rodgers, but Clements did well to remind everybody that Green Bay's new starter likely won't look like a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player in Week 1 this coming September.