Jordan Love out of concussion protocol; Packers to still start Clayton Tune vs. Vikings

Good news for Packers fans as quarterback Jordan Love has cleared concussion protocol, but Green Bay will keep him out of Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Vikings. Love will return under center in the Wild Card round on the weekend of Jan. 10 at either the Bears or the Eagles.

Starting this week for the Packers (9-6-1) will be Clayton Tune. Packers head coach Matt LaFluer said Love would only come onto the field if absolutely needed, but it would likely be Malik Willis or newly signed Desmond Ridder as the backup for Tune.

"If he's the backup on game day and if something bad happened, then you've got not many other options," LaFleur said on the possibility of playing Love. "But the intent, I would say, is not to play him."

Love suffered what is thought to be the first concussion of his career in the second quarter of their Dec. 20 game against the Bears. He missed Week 17's loss to the Ravens. But on Wednesday, Love returned to being a full participant in practice.

Tune has only made one career NFL start. The 2023 fifth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals went 11 of 20 for 58 yards in a 27-0 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Packers brought him onto the practice on Aug. 28.

Tune was moved up to the active roster. Willis reinjured his shoulder in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Tune. He completed 1 of 4 passes for eight yards with an interception. 

"He's a guy that's shown some pretty good promise in terms of what we've seen," LaFleur said in regards to Tune. "What an opportunity for him. I think he's started one other game in his career, I want to say. It's going to be a great opportunity, it's going to be great for everybody to see what he can go out there and do."

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