Packers: What to Watch For in Jordan Love’s Preseason Debut

After the long and well-documented offseason saga between Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, it was announced yesterday that Rodgers would likely sit out the entirety of the 2021 NFL preseason. This means that Jordan Love will start his first NFL preseason game this Saturday, August 14, 2021, at home against the Houston Texans.

The Green Bay Packers made waves that rippled throughout the entire league when they traded up to draft the former Utah State quarterback with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. The fact that the pick was made without telling Aaron Rodgers likely contributed to a rift between the three-time MVP and the Packers organization.

But with all the hullabaloo that the pick caused, many Packers fans and NFL fans alike have wondered, “Will the Jordan Love pick be worth it in the end?” If Love ends up being the next great Green Bay Packers quarterback, then the answer would be a resounding “yes.” But if he struggles and Aaron Rodgers leaves and has success elsewhere? Then it could end up being one of the biggest draft blunders of all time. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Many draft experts and league officials are enamored with the tools and potential that Jordan Love has in abundant supply. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had a chance to show what he can do or even gain any meaningful game experience, preseason or otherwise. He was inactive for every game last season, and with three years left on his contract, the Packers need him to show that he can perform, and soon.

It’s possible that the Packers have put Love in an unenviable situation, as he’s tasked with replacing one of the most talented quarterbacks of all time. Everyone has to start somewhere though, and Saturday night will be the first chapter in a potentially long and promising career for Jordan Love. Here’s what to watch for in the Packers’ first preseason game on Saturday night.