Love won’t practice without deal; Pack optimistic

Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff WriterJul 22, 2024, 10:36 AM ET
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GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers and Jordan Love may be nearing an agreement on a contract extension, but until it’s done, the starting quarterback won’t participate in practice or any games this preseason.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Monday shortly before the team’s first practice of training camp that Love’s representatives informed him Saturday night of their plans before a deal gets done.

“We completely understand where he’s coming from,” Gutekunst said.

Love did report for training camp on time and take part in meetings and other training camp activities except for practice. Previously, Love took part in the entire offseason program and the team’s mandatory minicamp in June to fulfill requirements for a $500,000 workout bonus.

When asked whether an extension could get done within a few days, Gutekunst said: “Yeah, I think so, but again, you never know. We’re working really hard to get that done. At the same time, the thing I have confidence in is we both want the same thing.”

The Packers have no immediate plans to add another quarterback. Coach Matt LaFleur said second-year pro Sean Clifford will handle the first snaps with the starters, but the reps will be split 50-50 between Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt. LaFleur said former NFL quarterback Sean Mannion, who was hired as an assistant coach this offseason, will help with throws during drill work.

When asked how long they can sustain that without adding a third quarterback, LaFleur said: “That’s a great question. Obviously we’re hopeful we’ll get something done here in the next … sooner than later. But that’s something that we’re going to have to just adjust on the fly.”

LaFleur said he was not immediately worried about Love and the offense losing the momentum they had built last season and into the offseason program.

“I know how he prepares,” LaFleur said. “So, I’m not overly concerned about that.”

Love did not speak to reporters like the Packers starting quarterback would typically do after the first training camp practice. But Clifford, who served as Love’s backup last season, said Love had hinted to him over the weekend that he might not be in position to practice when camp opened.

“He obviously wanted to be out there; he’s been pushing to get out there,” Clifford said. “I don’t even think it’s him. It’s more of other people making sure that he’s taken care of. The organization is as well. They’re doing their due diligence. He gave me a little bit of a heads up and said, ‘Hey, just be ready.'”

Clifford, who threw touchdown passes to Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks in Monday’s practice, indicated that he thinks this could be a short-term situation.

“I don’t think it’s going to take super long,” Clifford said. “It’s just what he’s got to do now. But again, it speaks volumes — he’s not in California, he’s here. I got in here at 7. His bag was already in here. He’s in early, he’s staying late. He’s doing all the little things so it’s no worry from the players that’s for sure.”

Without a new deal, Love would have made only $11 million this season on the final year of a mini extension he signed last May. That deal added one year, the 2024 season, to his rookie contract. It was in lieu of the team picking up the fifth-year option on that deal. At the time, Green Bay gave Love a $8,788,655 signing bonus. His base salary for last season was $1.01 million.

Love is now line for one of the richest contracts in the league and appears likely to join the $50 million a year club. The most recent quarterback deal was Trevor Lawrence‘s with the Jacksonville Jaguars in June. It is a five-year, $275 million deal that includes $200 million in guarantees. At $55 million a year, Lawrence and the Cincinnati Bengals‘ Joe Burrow are tied for the highest average pay in the league.

Love threw for 4,159 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. He was one of just four quarterbacks in 2023 to rank in the top 10 in passing touchdowns (second behind the Dallas Cowboys‘ Dak Prescott), passing yards (seventh) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (seventh).

He started all 17 games and after a 2-5 start, the Packers finished 9-8 to make the playoffs. Love led them to a wild-card win over the Dallas Cowboys in which he threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions before the divisional round loss at the San Francisco 49ers, which ended with a Love interception on the final drive.