Quarterback Jordan Love will not play for the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, which should mean the first start of the season for Malik Willis when the Packers face off against the Baltimore Ravens.
Love has been ruled out after sustaining a concussion in Green Bay’s previous game. However, Willis didn’t come out of that contest unscathed either. He injured his throwing shoulder when he was slammed to the turf on the final play of the fourth quarter in a 22-16 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears.
Willis’ playing status remains questionable after he practiced on a limited basis on Tuesday and Thursday, did not practice on Wednesday, and also dealt with an illness. If the “questionable” tag raised doubts about his availability, the Packers’ transaction report for the week provides clarity: Green Bay did not add another quarterback.
The only other quarterback on the roster is Clayton Tune, who hasn’t played this season but would be available to back up Willis if the Packers elevate him from the practice squad on Saturday.
—
A third-round draft pick in 2022, Willis made three starts in two seasons with the Tennessee Titans before joining Green Bay in a trade on August 26, 2024, in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick.
He was thrust into action almost immediately when Love missed the second and third games of the 2024 season. Willis helped lead the Packers to victories in both games.
“Every time we’ve needed him, he’s come through and done a nice job and given us a chance to win every game that he’s been in,” Green Bay offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said this week.
Last week, Willis made his third appearance of the season when Love was knocked out of the game with 8:15 left in the first half. Willis completed 9-of-11 passes for 121 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, and ran 10 times for 44 yards against the Bears.
However, Willis fumbled a fourth-down snap in overtime to end Green Bay’s possession, and Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DJ Moore four plays later.
—
With Willis headed toward free agency in the offseason, Saturday night’s game will be another opportunity to show potential suitors what he can do—perhaps as a starter in 2026.
“I think he’s done a hell of a job, man,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. “Just I think it’s all about his approach, how he came in here, how open he was to being coached. And, you know, we were pretty hard on him and his footwork, and he’s done an outstanding job. I feel like the more he plays, the better he’s gotten. It’s definitely great to have a guy like him that you have so much confidence in.”
—
Green Bay would have passed Chicago into first place in the NFC North standings with a win last week. Now, the only way for the Packers to win the division—and the accompanying first-round home playoff game—will be to win their remaining two contests while the Bears lose both of theirs.
However, Green Bay no longer has the pressure of holding off the Detroit Lions for a playoff spot. When the Lions lost to the Minnesota Vikings 23-10 on Thursday afternoon, it secured the Packers a place in the NFC playoff field.
“Whether it’s preseason, whether it’s in the middle of the season, whether it’s the playoffs, I don’t think it matters,” Willis said about staying cool in the stretch run. “All you try to do is go out there and go one and 0 each game. And if you can do that enough times, you’ll be happy.”
—
Willis has an impressive background. He spent two seasons as Jarrett Stidham’s backup at Auburn, completing 11-of-14 passes for 69 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while rushing for 309 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in 2017 and 2018.
After transferring to Liberty, Willis completed 377-of-604 passes for 5,107 yards with 47 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, and ran for 1,822 yards and 27 touchdowns on 338 carries in two seasons.
During his time with Tennessee, Willis appeared in 11 games with a passing-efficiency rating of 49.4. In contrast, in 10 games with Green Bay, his passing-efficiency rating has soared to 132.2.
“This position is about decision-making,” Willis said this week. “I mean, all the cool stuff is, you know, you see guys with really strong arms, guys athletic, the main thing is just being a great decision-maker and making sure that when it’s not the perfect play, that you don’t make it a disastrous play. And I think that’s what I’ve grown most with as being a young quarterback in this league and to this point now.”
—
The Ravens and Packers will kick off at 7 p.m. CST Saturday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Peacock will televise the game.
—
**For more of AL.com’s coverage of the NFL, visit our [NFL page](#).**
—
**Related stories:**
– Former Alabama prep standout ‘saw daylight’ against Dallas Cowboys
– Young fan buried in former Alabama high school star’s NFL jersey
– Bo Nix, Broncos beat Chiefs: ‘We just did what we had to do’
https://www.al.com/sports/2025/12/malik-willis-gets-prime-time-assignment-with-green-bay-packers.html