The Green Bay Packers faced a desperate situation at the end of their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, and then they lost starting quarterback Jordan Love.
With only 6 seconds remaining in an eventual 34-29 loss to the Eagles, Love got caught in the pocket and faced a likely game-ending sack. He scrambled and got the ball away to running back Josh Jacobs.
However, Love went down awkwardly in the process of getting tackled by Josh Sweat and Jalen Carter. His ankle bent under Carter, who was wrapping up the QB’s legs. Jacobs ran the ball out of bounds to give the Packers one more play, but the bigger concern was Love left on the ground, clutching his leg.
Love was able to walk off the field with help from athletic trainers. Backup quarterback Malik Willis entered to finish the game, but was sacked on his Hail Mary pass attempt by the Eagles’ Zack Baun as the clock ran out.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he didn’t know about Love’s status when asked by reporters about it after the game.
Before leaving the game, Love passed for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, completing 17-of-34 passes. It was his first regular-season game since signing a four-year, $220 million contract extension in late July that makes him the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. Love was signed to the lucrative deal after his first season as Green Bay‘s starter in which he threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns.