GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordan Love didn’t appear on the Green Bay Packers’ injury report once, even though he was hit 34 times through the team’s first three games of the season.
That won’t be the case this week.
The Packers’ starting quarterback was listed on the team’s first practice report of the week on Wednesday with a back injury. Because the Packers held a jog-through, injury designations are estimations. Head coach Matt LaFleur attributed the scaled-back session to his team coming off a Sunday night game and being mindful of the future. After Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, the Packers have a quick, four-day turnaround before hosting the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.
By all accounts, this isn’t a major issue for Love until it truly becomes one and he begins missing legitimate practices. It’s still worth noting any time the franchise quarterback is on the injury report. Despite the chaos unfolding around him, Love has been fearless in his ability to stand tall in the pocket and deliver the football, knowing he’s going to get hit.
“I don’t care who you are, [getting hit] affects every quarterback,” LaFleur said. “To stand in there after some of the abuse he took early on in the season, it’s a testament to him and his ability and just how tough-minded of a guy he is. He’s doing a great job getting the ball out of his hands.”
Love is currently No. 3 in the league in passing yards, but ranks No. 1 with eight completions of at least 40 yards. He’s tied for No. 1 with three completions of 50-plus yards, and No. 3 with 24 20-plus-yard completions.
The catalysts behind the Packers’ aerial assault this season have been the play of Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, Love’s top targets. Both players appeared on Wednesday’s injury report.
Watson was estimated as a limited participant with an ankle injury, while Golden was limited with a shoulder injury. Missing one—or both in a worst-case scenario—of those players could cripple the Packers’ offense, just as they’re beginning to gain traction. Watson and Golden are Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, in the league in receiving yardage.
They’re the first duo in franchise history to each record at least 25 receptions, 500 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in the first six games of a season. They’re the first teammate tandem in the league to accomplish this feat since Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow II did it for the Cleveland Browns in 2007. Golden caught six passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, giving him his third 100-yard performance in the Packers’ last four games—all three of them have come at Lambeau Field.
The only non-participant on Wednesday would’ve been Bo Melton, who was held out with a back injury. He’s one of four wideouts listed on the injury report, joining Watson, Golden, and Savion Williams. Williams, a former third-round pick who began the season on injured reserve, made his 2026 debut on Sunday. He caught four passes for 42 yards—two of those receptions coming on the first three plays from scrimmage—while filling a valuable role in the offense that he’s grown accustomed to. It’s unclear if Williams’ inclusion on the practice report is for the sake of load management with his ankle injury, or if he aggravated it on Sunday.
Devonte Wyatt was removed from the injury report entirely. Despite playing in every game, Wyatt has been a mainstay with what the Packers described as an ankle injury. However, it’s presumably the team managing last year’s season-ending lower-leg injury and making sure he isn’t straining too much in practice. That could change in the near future, with Wyatt seemingly operating at full health. This Sunday will mark Wyatt’s return to Ford Field, the site of last year’s injury.
The Packers could be seeing the return of Aaron Banks fairly soon, which would complicate matters at left guard. Banks has played just one half of football this season—Sept. 20 against the New York Jets—while battling a toe injury and knee tendinitis, forcing the Packers to outsource for solutions. 34-year-old Laken Tomlinson was brought in last month to stabilize the offensive line, and, for the most part, he’s done exactly that.
Banks practiced in a limited fashion for all three days last week, but he was still inactive on Sunday. He was estimated as a limited participant to begin this week’s preparation.
“He had a great week of practice last week,” LaFleur said. “That’s the best I’ve seen him look in a long time, so I think he’s getting there.”
Here’s the full practice report for Wednesday.
Limited
OG Aaron Banks (Knee/Toe)
DT Anthony Campbell (Ankle)
CB Brandon Cisse (Shoulder/Neck)
WR Matthew Golden (Shoulder)
QB Jordan Love (Back)
DT Jordon Riley (Achilles)
CB Benjamin St-Juste (Hamstring)
WR Christian Watson (Ankle)
WR Savion Williams (Ankle)
Did Not Participate
WR Bo Melton (Back)
Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.