GREEN BAY – It's almost scary to think what Malik Willis could do now if he actually got a chance to practice.
For the second straight Saturday night, despite virtually no practice reps with the No. 1 offense, Willis was the best player on the field for the Packers, turning in a valiant effort in unfortunately another damaging loss.
This one was 41-24 to the Ravens at Lambeau Field, relegating Green Bay to the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs with whatever lineup they'll be able to cobble together health-wise as the team has been decimated by injuries over its current three-game losing streak.
But boy did Willis show up and show out.
Battling through an injury to his throwing shoulder that occurred when Bears pass rusher Montez Sweat landed on him to complete a sack on the final play of regulation last week, all Willis did against Baltimore was put up a 134.6 passer rating with just three incompletions (18-of-21, 288 yards, one TD) while also being Green Bay's best running threat with 60 yards and two rushing TDs.
He completed a pass of at least 30 yards to four different targets, escaped multiple sacks with his mobility, fooled the Ravens with zone-read keepers, and almost singlehandedly kept the Packers in a game when the defense was getting run over drive after drive by the Ravens and running back Derrick Henry.
How exactly is he doing this?
"I don't know," Head Coach Matt LaFleur admitted, explaining that due to his shoulder injury and missing a day this past week due to catching whatever illness has been making its way through the Packers locker room, Willis didn't take many if any full-speed reps with the first-team offense. He didn't last week before the Chicago game, either, as starter Jordan Love was healthy then, leaving Willis to his normal backup duties.
"I think it just is a credit to him and the amount of work that he's put in and the type of player he is," LaFleur continued. "He's showing everybody who he is and what he can be."
That very well could be a starting QB for another club next year, or at least a contender for such a job, as his rookie contract will expire after this season and he'll become a free agent. A third-round selection by Tennessee back in 2022, Willis was discarded by the Titans at the end of training camp last summer and solved the Packers' backup QB woes for the measly price of a seventh-round pick.
To say he's come a long way in 16 months in Green Bay doesn't quite cover it, and Willis is quick to credit the Green Bay coaches for their work with him, helping him make the most of his playing time in place of Love.
That has included three relief wins last season – almost four – plus a scoring drive in a victory over the Giants a month ago and now two dynamite performances in consecutive losses that can't remotely be pinned on him.
"They definitely have been continuing to grow me and prepare me so that I feel just as comfortable as when Jordan goes in there and they can call the same offense and we can play ball," Willis said.
That's been a tremendous asset to the play-caller, LaFleur, who added: "He's given us a lot of confidence. He is unflappable. He is as calm as they come and just is a resilient dude. I can't say enough great things about Malik."
Two early miscues to end drives helped the Ravens built their lead, but if he hadn't aggravated his shoulder injury midway through the fourth quarter, forcing him to leave the game to get checked out, who knows? He had just completed a pass for a first down at the Baltimore 35-yard line with the score 34-24 and 7:40 on the clock.
The game definitely wasn't over had he been able to keep playing and balling out the way he had.
"You just hate to leave in the middle of a drive, obviously, as well as it was going," he said. "We could've got three or seven. We could have made a one-possession game. Maybe defense gets a stop. But we don't get into ifs and buts and ands. That's just the way it went, and it's unfortunate, obviously."
As for whether he's making a case to be a starter somewhere in the NFL next year, Willis politely dodged the question to keep the focus on his current team and the upcoming playoffs. But he's not oblivious to his situation.
"I try not to look too far ahead," he said. "I've just got to stay where my feet are. And obviously, right now I'm backing up Jordan and just doing what I can to stay ready and be ready to go with team needs me.
"I think that what you put on tape is your pitch. Obviously, you know, any opportunity, it will be a blessing, and you want to think about that type of stuff, but can't worry about tomorrow. Today has enough problems of its own. We've got to figure out how to get back on track here."
It's truly a shame the way he's played that the Packers aren't celebrating back-to-back wins right now and a chance to win the NFC North next week. Instead the season is heading the wrong direction thanks to a late-fourth-quarter collapse in Chicago and a defensive no-show at home.
Willis is the last one to say he deserves better, but he does. He should be the guy who put the Packers in the best playoff position they could ask for, but his heroic efforts won't be remembered for that.
"I walk out grateful yet disappointed," he said. "Obviously you want to go out and win every game, but it don't work out like that sometimes. Still grateful for the opportunity to glorify God, still grateful for the opportunity to go out and play ball again, you know what I mean?
"And still grateful that I get to fight with those guys that are in that locker room because every man in there gives it their all."
None more so than Willis himself.
