The Packers have added their quarterback to their injury report.
Jordan Love has been listed as limited in Wednesday’s session due to a back injury.
The Packers held a walk-through instead of a full practice to start the week, making the report an estimate.
Love did not miss a snap in the Week 6 victory over the Cowboys.
In six games this season, Love has completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,684 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Only receiver Bo Melton (back) was a non-participant in the session.
Guard Aaron Banks (knee/toe), defensive tackle Anthony Campbell (ankle), cornerback Brandon Cisse (shoulder/neck), receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder), defensive tackle Jordon Riley (Achilles), cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (hamstring), receiver Christian Watson (ankle), and receiver Savion Williams (ankle) were all limited.
Notably, running back Josh Jacobs is not on the report, implying he was a full participant on Wednesday in his return to the club.
The contract stalemate between the Lions and tight end Sam LaPorta has LaPorta thinking he might be elsewhere next season.
LaPorta says it’s frustrating that after putting it all on the line for his team, including a season-ending back injury last year, he still doesn’t have a contract beyond this season.
“I think the combination of getting your heartstrings twisted as well as the violent sport that we play, it sucks,” LaPorta said on Pardon My Take. “It’s disappointing that you go out there every week and you bear the risk of getting hurt. Like last year, whatever it was, Week 9, Week 10, I break my fucking back for the team. And then I’m going out there this year, and I’m ballin’, and maybe they’re just not showing the love. So it sucks.”
LaPorta knows that after this season the Lions will have to either pay him or let him test free agency, and either way he thinks he’ll be doing well.
“I’m going to continue to do my thing and ball out, and in three months if I don’t get to wear the Honolulu Blue and play for the Lions anymore, it’s going to be all good. I’ll go get paid somewhere else. So, whatever,” LaPorta said.
Lions coach Dan Campbell has praised LaPorta this year for how well he’s playing, so LaPorta isn’t letting his frustrations affect his ability to keep playing at a high level. And that’s smart: Other teams are seeing how LaPorta is playing, and some team is going to pay him.
The Packers offense had some rocky moments in the opening weeks of the season, but the last two weeks have seen the unit find its footing.
They’ve put up 54 points and 746 yards while turning the ball over once in wins over the Bears and Cowboys that have them sitting at 4-2 ahead of Sunday’s game in Detroit. The Lions defense had a good showing in its Week 5 game against the Cardinals and they’ll be hoping that carries over through last week’s bye, but head coach Dan Campbell isn’t expecting the group to pitch a shutout.
Campbell called Packers quarterback Jordan Love the team’s “secret sauce” during his Tuesday press conference and highlighted the touch he’s thrown on deep balls to Christian Watson and Matthew Golden as a particular concern. The two wideouts have 59 catches for 1,039 yards and nine touchdowns on the season, which is why Campbell said the team needs to be prepared to win in a shootout if necessary.
“They’re going to make some plays, but it’s about us making more of ‘em,” Campbell said. “If we get an opportunity for something, we have got to make the most of it, something that swings in our favor. We have to capitalize on those.”
The Packers beat the Lions twice last season and extending that winning streak would push the Lions further into fourth place in a very competitive decision, so Campbell will have to make sure his team is sharp on both sides of the ball this weekend.
The Lions are set to have Brian Branch in the lineup for the first time this season when they face the Packers on Sunday, but they’re still waiting for another one of their safeties to get back on the field.
Kerby Joseph is on the physically unable to perform list because of the knee problems that also limited him to six games last season. On Tuesday, head coach Dan Campbell said “I do” when asked if he expects Joseph to play this season but said only that the team will “take it one day at a time” regarding when that might happen.
“He’s doing well,” Campbell said at a press conference. “I’ll leave it at that. He really is, he’s doing a good job. I’m not gonna give you a timetable, but I’ve been pleased with where he’s at.
Joseph was a first-team All-Pro while playing every game during the 2024 season, which also saw the Lions defense perform at a higher level across the board than they’ve managed since the start of last season. Joseph wouldn’t fix all problems, but he’s a piece the team would likely have back in the mix as they try to make it to the postseason.
During the offseason, the Lions elected to move three-time first-team AP All-Pro Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle.
So far, head coach Dan Campbell has liked the results.
“The switch has been outstanding and yes, I have [seen growth],” Campbell said in his Monday press conference, via transcript from the team. “I still feel an ascending player. I feel like in some regards he looks even more smooth than he did at right. And I never thought he’d looked out of place at right or didn’t look smooth. It almost feels like he’s found even another little gear here [with] his ability to get out of his stance, and anchor, and punch, and run off the football.
“But it’s a credit to him. He’s banked a lot of reps and honestly, he can go anywhere. I mean, you can put him in the left, you can put him at right. That’s why we move him a little bit. But he’s playing high level football right now at left tackle.”
Sewell’s performance at left tackle is a significant part of why the Lions are tied for the league lead at 32.8 points per game and No. 4 in yards per game at 393.8.
At 3-2, the Lions will host the division rival, 4-2 Packers on Sunday afternoon.
