GREEN BAY – Packers quarterback Jordan Love has passed the concussion protocol, but Clayton Tune will start in Sunday's regular-season finale against Minnesota, Head Coach Matt LaFleur announced before Thursday's practice.
Love missed last Saturday's game against Baltimore after sustaining a concussion in the second quarter of Green Bay's Week 16 game in Chicago. He was upgraded to full participation on Wednesday, but LaFleur said the "intention" is for Love not to play in Minnesota, as the Packers prepare for postseason play.
Green Bay is still sorting out who will serve as the backup to Tune. With primary backup Malik Willis limited in practice due to shoulder and hamstring injuries, the Packers signed veteran Desmond Ridder to the practice squad this week.
"Clayton Tune's going to start, and then as far as the backup, we're kind of working through that process right now," LaFleur said. "Malik's dealing with a hamstring. Obviously just got Desmond Ridder in here. We're kind of taking it a day at a time."
Tune, 26, spent the entire season on Green Bay's practice squad before being promoted to the 53-man roster Wednesday. A 2023 fifth-round pick by Arizona, Tune made his first and only start against Cleveland in what was just his second NFL game. He relieved an injured Willis in the fourth quarter last Saturday, completing 1 of 4 passes for eight yards with an interception off a tipped pass.
"He's a guy that's shown some pretty good promise in terms of what we've seen," LaFleur said. "It's going to be a great opportunity and it's going to be great for everybody to go out and see what he could do."
It's been a busy week for the Packers, who have made 16 transactions over the past three days. Included in that were waiver claims for All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs (from Dallas) and defensive lineman Jonathan Ford (from Chicago).
LaFleur said Diggs is expected to practice Thursday and could "potentially" play against the Vikings. The sixth-year veteran has 240 tackles with 20 interceptions in 66 games (63 starts).
"All hands on deck," said LaFleur when asked about quickly getting a new player up to speed. "You spend a lot of time with him in terms of trying to get him up so they understand what their responsibility is. So we'll spend a lot of time with him. I do think that's a position where you can get acclimated pretty quickly and adjust pretty quickly. Hopefully we can get that done."
The Packers also are expecting defensive lineman Collin Oliver to make his debut Sunday. The rookie fifth-round pick dealt with a recurring hamstring injury before his activation off the physically unable to perform list on Dec. 22.
