When backup plans meet backup plans meet backup plans

The Green Bay Packers are getting absolutely wrecked by the injury and illness gods heading into Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Starting quarterback Jordan Love got downgraded from questionable to out on Friday after failing to clear all the required stages of the concussion protocol following last week’s overtime loss to Chicago. So now Malik Willis, who threw the game-winning touchdown against the Bears but also injured his throwing shoulder on the final play, is starting in his place.

This isn’t a situation where the Packers have a healthy backup ready to roll. This is a situation where they’re starting a guy who’s limited in practice all week because of a shoulder injury and who also missed a day of preparation because he was dealing with illness spreading through the locker room. It’s backup plan chaos meeting real-world complications, and the Packers are trying to hold onto their playoff hopes while navigating it all.

“It’s just a very delicate issue, you know what I’m saying in terms of, we’ve seen it with certain guys they come in, they feel great one day and then the next day they don’t,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said about Love’s winding path through concussion protocol. “So it kind of is a little bit of a moving target.”

That’s about as honest as a coach can be about the unpredictability of head injuries.

When the concussion protocol actually protects players

Love’s situation is exactly why concussion protocol exists. The quarterback was limited in practice all week, seemed to be progressing through the steps, and suddenly on Friday morning the Packers realized he wasn’t ready. He didn’t pass all the required stages. The protocol isn’t fast sometimes that’s the whole point.

The problem is timing. Love felt great at different points during the week. Then he’d feel worse. Then better again. It’s literally a moving target, which is why coaches and medical staff can’t just look at a calendar and say “okay, you’ll be good by Saturday.” Your brain doesn’t work on a schedule.

So Willis gets the start with a shoulder that’s compromised and a body that’s been fighting through illness. That’s not ideal preparation for going against a Ravens defense, even if that defense might also be compromised with Lamar Jackson dealing with a back contusion and listed as doubtful.

The Ravens’ own quarterback problems

Green Bay isn’t the only team dealing with chaos at quarterback on Saturday. Baltimore listed Lamar Jackson as doubtful because of a back contusion. If Jackson doesn’t go, Tyler Huntley will start in his place. So there’s a very real possibility we’re looking at Willis versus Huntley two backup quarterbacks who didn’t expect to be starting this week.

That would be a weird game, even by NFL standards. Two teams fighting for playoff positioning, both rolling with emergency quarterbacks. It’s the kind of situation that can come down to which offense can execute basic football despite the absences, which defense can make things difficult for backup QBs, and honestly, who wants it more.

The depth chart getting creative

Clayton Tune, who has literally spent the entire season on the practice squad, will probably be Willis’ backup. The Packers have to add him to the active roster Saturday because he wasn’t included in Friday’s roster moves. They placed linebacker Kristian Welch on injured reserve (ankle), which cleared a spot. The team also downgraded guard Aaron Banks and receiver Savion Williams to questionable after both got hit with the illness spreading through Green Bay’s facility.

This is basically the Packers playing three-dimensional chess with a roster that’s dealing with injuries, illness, and concussion protocol all at the same time.

The playoff reality despite the chaos

Here’s the good news for Green Bay: they already clinched a playoff spot Thursday when Detroit lost to Minnesota. They’re mathematically in. But they still have a realistic path to winning the NFC North if they win out against Baltimore and their final opponent while the Bears lose their last two games. That’s the carrot hanging in front of the Packers despite having Willis starting and a locker room dealing with spreading illness.

So Saturday becomes about more than just getting a win. It’s about proving they can survive significant adversity at the most important position and still compete. It’s about showing that even with Love sidelined, even with Willis limited, even with a rotating door of illness affecting practice participation, Green Bay can still execute.

That’s playoff mentality. That’s what teams have to do in December.