12/21/25 12:47:00
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12/21 00:45 CST Jordan Love exits Green Bay loss with a concussion in latest
injury for Packers
Jordan Love exits Green Bay loss with a concussion in latest injury for Packers
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) --- The injuries are piling up for the Green Bay Packers.
It was Jordan Love on Saturday night.
The star quarterback exited with a concussion after he was hit hard in the
second quarter, and Green Bay blew a late lead in a gut-wrenching 22-16
overtime loss to the Chicago Bears. John FitzPatrick also left with an Achilles
injury, leaving the Packers thin at tight end.
The head injury for Love comes after defensive end Micah Parsons tore the ACL
in his left knee during last weekend's 34-26 loss at Denver. While running back
Josh Jacobs and receiver Christian Watson managed to play after they were
listed as questionable, right tackle Zach Tom, safety Evan Williams and tight
end Josh Whyle were sidelined by injuries.
"That's football, right?" coach Matt LaFleur said. "And you've got to stay
resilient. ... You roll up your sleeves, you get back to work, and you continue
to fight. And that's what our guys will do."
Love was shaken up after a helmet-to-helmet hit by defensive lineman Austin
Booker on a sack. Booker was flagged for roughing the passer.
The 27-year-old Love eventually jogged off the field and went into the blue
injury tent on Green Bay's sideline. Then he walked to the visiting locker room.
There was no update on Love after the loss.
"I hollered at him after the game, just really quickly," said backup
quarterback Malik Willis, who replaced Love. "I mean, I didn't get to really
get into it too much with him. Just let him know I'm praying for him and hope
he's ready to go."
Willis gave Green Bay (9-5-1) a spark, going 9 of 11 for 121 yards and a
touchdown --- a beautiful 33-yard pass to Romeo Doubs late in the third
quarter. Willis also had 10 carries for 44 yards on the ground.
Willis and the Packers were in control after they opened a 16-6 lead on Brandon
McManus' third field goal, a 28-yarder with 5:03 left. But they were unable to
close out a win that would have moved them back into first place in the NFC
North.
"Just too many errors in critical moments that got us beat," LaFleur said.
Green Bay went 0 for 5 in the red zone, after it was 1 for 4 in those
situations against Denver. Doubs mishandled an onside kick that was recovered
by Chicago. There was a botched exchange between Willis and Sean Rhyan in
overtime, setting the stage for Caleb Williams' game-ending touchdown pass for
the Bears.
"I just didn't do the job right and like I said, I'll take 100% of this game,"
Doubs said.
Willis took the blame for the snap miscue in overtime.
"Just a miscommunication between me and Sean," he said. "He wasn't expecting me
to change up the cadence, but the clock got low and I was just trying to hurry
up and get a snap. So we're just a little off timing, off kilter there. That's
on me."
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