Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers had to be removed from the Packers 40-33 loss to Eagles due to a rib injury. Fortunately, it does not appear that there is any structural damage and he does not have a punctured lung (as he initially feared). With Rodgers sidelined, the Packers sent Jordan Love, the beguiled first round pick from 2020 into the game. Now, Love has received a great deal of unfair criticism from Packers fans, simply because he was drafted by the Packers. However, he silenced many critics with his stellar play against the Eagles. He finished the game 6/9 with 113 passing yards and a touchdown.
Social Media Reacts to Jordan Love Playing Well
To say that there was a great deal of newfound appreciation for Love would be an understatement. The Packers backup quarterback was the recipient of many posts praising his play.
Jordan Love rolling into Soldier Field next week, beating the Bears, and crushing their fans’ dreams of dominating the Packers in the division for the next decade is going to be so epic.
— Kyle Cousineau (@KCousineau09) November 28, 2022
I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive this Packers defense of robbing me of a Jordan Love 4th quarter comeback
— Robin Adams (@theotherRobin19) November 28, 2022
How I sleep at night knowing Jordan Love showed he belongs in the NFL on a national stage against the best team in the league pic.twitter.com/Ir4E8hhJvB
— Imperius Rex (@Ferd_Turgeson) November 28, 2022
So… I'm not going to make any grand proclamations at the moment, but Jordan Love has vastly exceeded my expectations in his two drives on the field. He's firing the ball with force and confidence, and isn't afraid to take chances. Even had a couple nice balls on the run. Hmm.
— Tim Backes (@timbackes) November 28, 2022
All the Jordan Love haters can be quiet now
— hales (@bailsofhayyyyy) November 28, 2022
So all the Packers needed was Jordan Love?
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 28, 2022
Jordan Love is slinging it omg
— erin alyce (@herooine) November 28, 2022
HATERS ARE WEEPING!!! JORDAN LOVE TO CHRISTIAN WATSON FOR A TD!!! James Lofton type stuff by Watson!! Hahaha amazing
— Big B (@bigpackers4x) November 28, 2022
Related: Packers: Comparing Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love’s First Five Games
Questions Still Surround Jordan Love’s Future with the Packers
The Green Bay Packers need to make a decision regarding Jordan Love this offseason. Will they exercise his fifth year option or not? If they do, Love will make approximately $20 million in 2024. If Aaron Rodgers is still on the team in 2024, he will carry a cap hit of over $40 million. In other words, the Packers could have over $60 million in cap space tied up in their quarterbacks in 2024.
Now, there are some Packers fans that mistakenly believe the Packers should just cut or trade Aaron Rodgers. If they were to do that, Rodgers would carry a dead cap hit of close to $100 million in 2023. In 2024, that dead cap figure would fall to about $24.5 million. Of course, they are not going to cut Rodgers. As far as trades go, the cap number would depend on when he was traded. Per Jason Fitzgerald of overthecap.com:
“If Rodgers were to be traded prior to June 1st the Packers would take on a $40,313,750 cap hit in 2023. If he was traded after June 1st it would be a $15,833,570 cap hit in 2023 with $24,480,000 due in 2024. This assumes that the Packers did not exercise the option before the trade. If the option is exercised then the trade number spikes to nearly $100 million. There should be no need to exercise the option until the last possible day.”
On the possibility that Rodgers retires, Fitzgerald wrote:
“If Rodgers were to walk away he would forfeit all his rights to the $59.465 million in guaranteed salary for next year. In order to best accommodate the hit on the salary cap my assumption would be that the Packers and Rodgers would sign a new contract where the option bonus was eliminated and just a $1.165 salary remained. That would reduce Rodgers salary cap charge to $16,998,750 and they would carry him on the roster as a procedural move until June 2nd. At that point they would put him on the retired list. The salary cap charge in that case would be $15,833,570 in 2023 and $24,480,000 in 2024.”
Where does that leave Jordan Love? In a very undetermined place. It will be interesting to see how Rodgers and the front office approach this offseason.
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