7-24-2024 8:40am

Jordan Love won't practice until new deal is done; Packers GM believes sides are 'close'

Ypsilanti PressLLC Editor

Jordan Love

If 2023 was the build-up, 2024 should be the takeoff season for Jordan Love.

The former first-round pick blossomed down the back half of the 2023 campaign, powering a surprise run to the Divisional Round of the playoffs for the upstart Packers. After dodging years of questions of whether Love could be the true successor to Aaron Rodgers, the Utah State quarterback answered those questions in resounding fashion, positioning Green Bay as a favorite to return to the playoffs and wreak some postseason havoc in 2024.

Love's timeline, however, has made for an interesting contractual situation for the Packers. Because Green Bay selected Love and sat him behind Rodgers for three years, it robbed itself of a chance to ride with a young quarterback on a rookie deal. The 2024 season will be Love's second as a full-time starter, but fifth on the Packers' payroll, the final year of a one-year extension to his four-year rookie contract. It's time for Green Bay to again extend Love -- whose representation informed the Packers he won't practice until a deal is done---and it sounds as if it could happen soon.

"Yeah, I think so, but again you never know. We're working really hard to get that done," Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Monday. "I think it's really important for us. At the same time, the thing that I have confidence in is that we both want the same thing. We want Jordan here for a long time, give him that stability for him, and it gives us some stability for our group as well. … I'm optimistic. These are big deals. It takes time. They're not as easy as some people may think. ...

"I feel we're close, but no real timetables as far as how long it's going to take."

Published: Jul 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM