GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is not permitted to speak with reporters while in concussion protocol, but the words of his teammates paint a picture of him playing on Saturday night against the Baltimore Ravens.
“He’s looked really good,” wide receiver Christian Watson said after Wednesday’s practice. “From everything that I’ve talked to him about, he feels like he’s in a good spot. Obviously, he’s gotta clear everything. I think he’s just approaching it like a normal week in terms of how he’s going about everything, and then, obviously, he’ll just let the medical staff take care of the rest. … He’s looked like J-Love out there, so, obviously, if he does get the opportunity to play on Saturday, I know he’ll be ready to go.”
Love practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday, three days before kickoff. With backup quarterback Malik Willis not present because of an illness, only Love and practice squad quarterback Clayton Tune wore red jerseys. Watson was asked if “you guys” took any reps with Tune, and his simple answer of “no” might indicate the Packers are preparing for Love to start.
Christian Watson on Jordan Love, who is still in concussion protocol: “He’s looked really good. He’s looked really good. From everything that I’ve talked to him about, he feels like he’s in a good spot.” pic.twitter.com/inwMxhJu23
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 24, 2025
It’s unclear exactly what stage of the protocol Love was in as of Wednesday afternoon, but the best assumption would be Stage 4 of 5 based on what we’ve seen and heard. He’s been present in the locker room during the 45 minutes it has been open to reporters on Tuesday and Wednesday. He appeared jovial and exchanged words with some reporters in passing, spoke on his phone, and on Wednesday, left a box of Nike Dunk sneakers in each teammate’s locker. The Packers will conduct another official practice on Thursday before Friday’s walkthrough, but neither is open to reporters.
“He’s obviously in the protocol and everything like that, but he’s doing everything and hopefully — we’ll see how it goes this week — but hopefully we can get him through the protocol and everything’s good,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said.
According to the NFL, Stage 3 of the protocol is as follows: “The player continues with supervised cardiovascular exercises that are increased and may mimic sport-specific activities, and supervised strength training is introduced. The player is allowed to practice with the team in sport-specific exercise for 30 minutes or less with ongoing and careful monitoring.”
Stage 4 sounds like what Love was in on Wednesday: “The player continues cardiovascular, strength and balance training, team-based sports-specific exercise, and participates in non-contact football activities (e.g. throwing, catching, running, and other position-specific activities). Neurocognitive and balance testing should be completed no later than the end of Phase Four with the results interpreted as back to baseline.”
Stage 5 would be the final box for Love to check off: “Upon clearance by the Club physician for full football activity involving contact, the player must be examined by the Independent Neurological Consultant (INC) assigned to his Club. If the INC concurs with the Club physician that the player’s concussion has resolved, he may participate in his Club’s next practice or game.”
Love suffered his first documented concussion in six years in the NFL last Saturday night. Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker was flagged for the helmet-to-helmet hit midway through the second quarter, and Love missed the rest of the game. Not all concussions are created equal, so there may have been inherent doubt about Love’s availability to face the Ravens. But he appears to be on the right track and at least has the benefit of a full week in between games with the Packers playing on consecutive Saturdays.
“He looked good,” wide receiver Jayden Reed said after Wednesday’s practice before offering a stronger assessment of his starting quarterback. “He looked great.”
If, for some reason, Love doesn’t clear the concussion protocol, Willis figures to start unless his illness sidelines him for four days. Willis said Tuesday that his right-shoulder injury, suffered on the final play of regulation in Chicago, wasn’t expected to sideline him against the Ravens. Tune, a 2023 fifth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, has been on Green Bay’s practice squad all season. Head coach Matt LaFleur also revealed this week that Reed and running back Josh Jacobs are his emergency quarterbacks.
Fortunately for the Packers, it appears they won’t have to enact a plan involving Tune, Reed or Jacobs or even Willis for a potential playoff-clinching game. If the Minnesota Vikings beat the Detroit Lions on Thursday, the Packers will clinch a playoff spot before even kicking off on Saturday night. In that scenario, they might consider resting Love’s head an extra week before the regular-season finale against the Vikings. If the Lions win on Christmas Day, however, the Packers clinch a postseason berth by beating the Ravens at Lambeau Field.
Elsewhere on Green Bay’s typically lengthy injury report that included a whopping 20 players on Tuesday and Wednesday, right tackle Zach Tom (back/knee), Willis (right shoulder/illness), wide receiver/cornerback Bo Melton (illness) and linebacker Kristian Welch (ankle) were the only four non-participants. Defensive end Lukas Van Ness (foot) was upgraded to a full participant on Wednesday.
For the Ravens, quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t practice Wednesday because of a back injury suffered last Sunday night in a loss to the New England Patriots. If the former NFL MVP can’t play Saturday night, the Packers would face Tyler Huntley instead.