Jordan Love fires three TDs in win over Panthers

Even with Josh Jacobs back in the mix, the Packers still struggled to get the ground game going. As a result, Love aired it out early and often, throwing a ridiculous 10 passes for 20-plus yards, but only three were completed. Love’s first touchdown pass came on a third-and-nine when he connected with Tucker Kraft for a 14-yard score, and in the third quarter, a short pass to Jacobs was turned upfield for a 25-yard touchdown after Jacobs tight-roped along the sideline to find pay dirt. Love nearly connected with Jacobs for another score late in the fourth quarter, but Jacobs was unable to complete the diving catch in the end zone for the go-ahead score. On the next play, Trey Smack had a 35-yard field goal blocked, which ultimately set the Lions up for the game-winning field goal on the ensuing drive. Love continues to play an aggressive style of football, airing it out to his speedsters in Matthew Golden and Christian Watson. He and the Packers now have a short turnaround to prepare for the Panthers in Week 8, where he will be on the QB1 radar.

Love was limited on Wednesday before upgrading to full on Thursday. Packers coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that his starting quarterback was “pretty beat up” after the Packers’ Week 6 win over the Cowboys. Hopefully, he is feeling much better by now. This divisional showdown looks like one of the most fantasy-friendly game environments in Week 7. He’s a QB1.

It’s an upgrade from Wednesday’s limited session. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Love was “pretty beat up” after Sunday night, but Love doesn’t appear to be in any danger of missing the game. He’ll likely be cleared off the injury report Friday.

Love got checked out by the team’s chiropractor after the game and was listed as limited for yesterday’s practice. LaFleur told reporters they haven’t determined whether he will be limited for today’s session. Either way, he said yesterday that there is no chance Love misses Week 7, so the practice reports are a moot point. Love is a top-half QB1 for his date with Detroit this week.

Wednesday’s session was a walkthrough, so this is just an estimate from the team. We don’t believe it will be much of an issue for Love in Week 7. Barring a setback, Love will remain in the QB1 mix for a likely shootout with the Lions on Sunday.

Love isn’t typically a threat to punch in a touchdown with his legs, but the state of the backfield and flow of the game gave him that opportunity late in the second quarter, which he would cash in for his first rushing score since Week 11 of 2024. Fantasy managers shouldn’t get too excited about the touchdown on the ground considering running back Josh Jacobs is expected to be activated from the commissioner’s exempt list Monday. Even so, Love has now accounted for two touchdowns in all six games played through the first third of the season and has gone over 300 yards through the air in half his appearances to start the 2026 season, leaving plenty of meat on the bone for continued fantasy production as the Packers enter their most difficult stretch of the schedule. Love remains a locked-in QB1 ahead of a potential shootout against the division rival Lions in Week 7.

With the Packers’ backs against the wall in a rivalry grudge match, Love had one of the best starts of his NFL life by simply cutting it loose. His 367 yards passing were the third most of his career, and accompanied by zero turnovers. He found each of Christian Watson, Matthew Golden and Tucker Kraft for at least one 46-yard gain, including a 53-yard touchdown to Watson. That does not include an earlier 42-yard scoring strike to Watson. Each score had serious air underneath them. This really was Love airing it out, something less competent quarterbacks had been struggling to do vs. the Bears’ vulnerable defense. We have seen this Love and Packers movie before — a step forward not followed by another move in the right direction — but neither Packers fans nor fantasy managers could have asked for more this afternoon. Love will have a good shot at keeping the good vibes going vs. the Cowboys’ struggling defense in Week 6.

Green Bay entered this game in desperate need of a win. They got it, though it was not pretty. Kneel downs aside, the Packers had five drives that gained fewer than 10 yards. Love nearly threw the game away with an interception straight into the hands of Jacob Parris in the red zone with less than four minutes left on the clock. The Bucs could not score on the ensuing drive and Love got to kneel out the clock. The Packers’ offense still looked disjointed today. They simply found an opponent that wasn’t a threat to put more than a handful of points on the board. Love is slipping further back in the QB2 ranks as he prepares to take on the Bears in Week 5.

Love was completely overrun by consistent pressure throughout on a night the Packers attempted 53 passes to just eight running back carries. The Atlanta defensive line took advantage of mounting injuries and ineffective play along the Green Bay offensive line to disrupt any offensive rhythm for the Packers. Love’s two touchdowns went to his top two options through the air in Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, the latter of whom notched the first regular season touchdown of his young career late in the fourth quarter. Matt LaFleur, Love, and the rest of the Packers have some significant work to do if they are to save their quickly sinking season. Love falls to a middling QB2 ahead of a road matchup with an aggressive Buccaneers defense in Week 4.

Love also ran in a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it was called back because of a holding penalty. This game was played in a consistent drizzle, but the rain was not coming down hard enough to excuse why the Packers’ offense gained just 199 total yards. They committed 14 penalties and seemed incapable of making big plays, with just one play gaining at least 20 yards all day. Love took some deep shots down the field to Matthew Golden, but there weren’t many near misses to hang your hat on, and the offensive line didn’t hold up really well in pass protection. The good news is that the Packers will face a fairly mediocre Falcons defense in Week 3, so Love can be used in most fantasy leagues in that one.