GREEN BAY, Wis. — A bad way to preface this story would be telling you that the Green Bay Packers are returning to the same site this week where their 2025 campaign essentially fell apart.
An even worse way would be telling you that Jordan Love will be playing.
But that’s the reality we live in. Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed on Tuesday that Love will get the start in the upcoming Aug. 21 preseason game against the Denver Broncos. If Love is out there, it’s safe to assume that the rest of the Packers’ starting offense will be, too.
“That’s the plan right now,” LaFleur said.
Last year’s trip to Denver notoriously sent the remainder of the Packers’ season spiraling. Right tackle Zach Tom suffered a partially torn patellar tendon, All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons tore his left anterior cruciate ligament, and starting receiver Christian Watson had to be transported to a Denver-area hospital with chest and shoulder injuries after colliding violently with the turf on a failed deep ball that was intercepted by cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr.
To make matters worse, the Packers botched a two-score lead in the third quarter and lost the game. They’d lose their remaining four regular-season games before being eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Chicago Bears.
Of course, none of that matters now, but the Packers opting to deploy their starters—albeit for a brief period—is sure to incite some apprehension among fans. LaFleur has been adamant that the preparation aspect leading up to a game is imperative and goes a long way in terms of what to expect when the wins and losses begin to truly matter. He doesn’t have a set number of plays that he wants to have his starting lineup out there for; he’ll just play that by ear.
“It’s pretty fluid,” LaFleur said. “A lot of it is just the circumstances; who do we have available to go out there and play? Some of it is just a little bit of a gut feel, but I’ve said it many times: I do think there’s a lot of value—whether you’re getting ready to play one play or a complete football game—to getting your mind ready to go into battle.”
Love played just one offensive series last Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, completing three of his five passing attempts for 18 yards. He was relieved after the drive, along with most of the Packers’ starters. Some players, such as starting left tackle Jordan Morgan, running back MarShawn Lloyd, and cornerback Keisean Nixon, remained in the game a little longer.
If LaFleur has it his way, the Packers’ starters won’t have to play in any capacity in the Aug. 28 exhibition finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams will take part in a joint practice two days beforehand in Green Bay—that’s where all of the work for the Packers’ first-team offense will take place. LaFleur has expressed in the past how invaluable joint practices are; being able to emulate a live game against a foreign defense in a controlled environment can be fruitful.
All of that will depend on how well the Packers do this week, both in practice and against the Broncos. They’ll have their final padded practice of the week on Tuesday before traveling to Denver.