GREEN BAY – The Packers' quarterback situation this week remains uncertain, as Jordan Love is working his way through the concussion protocol, and Malik Willis is dealing with a shoulder injury.
But some encouraging developments have emerged with Saturday night's game against Baltimore still four days away.
For one, Head Coach Matt LaFleur said Love has been attending meetings and was a limited participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice.
For another, Willis expressed confidence he could answer the call if it comes again.
"I try to take it one day at a time, but I would assume that I'm going to be ready," Willis said.
While in the protocol, Love is off limits to reporters, but he was seen walking around the locker room during Tuesday's media session.
If he doesn't get cleared, Willis has certainly become an invaluable security blanket who did all he could to give the Packers a chance to get a big win last weekend in Chicago. After injuring his shoulder on a sack on the final play of regulation, he even completed a 31-yard pass in overtime, mostly thanks to adrenaline, he said.
"He's done an outstanding job," LaFleur said of Willis. "I feel like the more he plays, the better he's gotten. It's great to have a guy like him you have so much confidence in."
Elsewhere on the health front, running back Josh Jacobs remains limited due to his knee injury, and tight end Josh Whyle is limited as well as he continues working through the protocol following a concussion in Denver two games ago.
Following John FitzPatrick's season-ending Achilles injury in Chicago, Luke Musgrave is the only healthy tight end on the active roster, so potentially getting Whyle back this week would be significant. The Packers also have two young tight ends on the practice squad.
Two starters who missed the Chicago game due to knee injuries from Denver, right tackle Zach Tom and safety Evan Williams, also provided updates.
"We're getting better," Tom said, without elaborating, saying he needs to test his knee physically before he'll have a sense of whether he can play this week. "Just gotta get some of the swelling, inflammation to go down and then go from there."
Tom was replaced in Chicago by second-year pro Jordan Morgan, who turned in a solid performance with one major regret, when he lost his balance on the Montez Sweat sack that hurt Willis' shoulder. Veteran Darian Kinnard, who had originally filled in for Tom in Denver, remained in the role of the extra offensive lineman the Packers deployed for their jumbo package.
"I thought he played well," Tom said of Morgan. "Always going to be stuff to clean up, nobody's ever going to go out there and play perfect, but I thought he went in there and executed the offense and was going up against a pretty good rusher. I think he held his own."
Williams said he plans to do at least some individual drills during Wednesday's practice, as he's "getting more comfortable" and feels "optimistic" for this week. Javon Bullard took Williams' place against the Bears, but if Williams is available, Bullard would return to his customary slot position.
