Jordan Love’s official introduction as the Green Bay Packers’ next starting quarterback on Sunday just got much more daunting.
Top wide receiver Christian Watson was ruled for Week 1 against the rival Chicago Bears on Friday, while No. 2 wideout Romeo Doubs is questionable. Both players are battling hamstring injuries.
If Doubs is unable to suit up, that would leave rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed and first-year tight end Luke Musgrave as possible top targets for Love. Regardless of Doubs’ status, extra pressure will be put on backup running back AJ Dillon and in particular, starter Aaron Jones, to give the signal-caller potential pass-catching options out of the backfield.
Jones posted career highs in targets (72) and receptions (59) during Aaron Rodgers’ final season in Green Bay last year, while adding 395 of his 1,516 yards from scrimmage through the air and contributing five receiving scores.
Watson was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and took over as the team’s alpha wideout by midseason, finishing the year with a team-leading seven touchdown catches, as well as 41 receptions for 611 yards in 14 games.
Green Bay used its first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to select Love at 26th overall, but he’s only taken 157 career snaps and made one start since then. The 24-year-old didn’t see the field as a rookie behind Rodgers and got his most playing time in 2021, appearing in six games and making one start, going 36-for-62 for 411 passing yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Love played in only four games last season and went 14-for-21 for 195 passing yards and one touchdown.
The Packers travel to Chicago for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday.