The Minnesota Vikings will need some good fortune to compete in the NFC North this year and lucky for them, the Green Bay Packers may have seen their season already come to an end on the turf in Brazil on Friday night.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love was injured in the final moments of Friday’s 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and the injury could have significant ramifications throughout the NFC North.
Love was hurt as he looked to make a play on a last-minute drive as he was hit by Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter while making a lateral to Josh Jacobs. Jacobs raced out of bounds to stop the clock, but Love was stuck, and his left leg buckled as he fell to the turf.
Love stayed down for several moments before being helped off the field by the trainers, and Malik Willis came in to finish the game under center for Green Bay. While the Packers wound up losing, they may have lost much more depending on the severity of Love’s injury.
Injury to Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love could create opening in NFC North for Minnesota Vikings
DD Fantasy Football injury specialist Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT, believes that Love may have suffered a left MCL sprain and/or a high ankle sprain on the play after he was able to hobble on the sideline and didn’t have trainers working on him when he got to the sideline.
Fox Sports Radio injury specialist Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT, also noted the possibility of a lower left leg fracture after Love’s foot stuck into the turf.
Any evaluation on social media is pure speculation, but a severe injury could alter the NFC North. Willis was acquired by the Packers from the Tennessee Titans shortly before the 53-man roster deadline last month, and an injury to Love, who signed a four-year, $220 million contract extension this summer, could thrust their new backup into the spotlight.
If Willis has to fill in as Green Bay's starter for the next few weeks and he struggles, it could open the door for the Vikings, Detroit Lions, or Chicago Bears to compete for a top spot in the NFC North this season or at least create separation before Love is potentially ready to return.
This also has another tie to the Vikings due to the condition of the turf on Friday night. The game between the Packers and Eagles featured several players slipping and could be a precursor to when Minnesota plays its own international game in London against the New York Jets on October 6.
Time will tell whether Love has avoided major injury, but there’s a possibility that Green Bay's 2024 season may have ended after just one week.