Packers Thin at QB: Malik Willis or Bust?

If you’re looking for a fantasy football replacement option for Jordan Love, unfortunately you’re limited to backup quarterback Malik Willis. The Green Bay Packers only have one other quarterback on the roster, Sean Clifford, but he began the season on the practice squad.

The Packers shot down rumors earlier this week that they would sign free agent quarterback Ryan Tannehill as a replacement option for Love. Many fans have been lobbying the Packers to sign Jameis Winston, who is currently a backup quarterback with the Cleveland Browns.

At the end of training camp, the Packers realized they needed to bolster their bench with a better backup quarterback. They acquired Malik Willis in a trade with the Tennessee Titans for a seventh-round pick in 2025. Clifford backed up Love last season, but he did not make the official roster in Week 1 and was demoted to the practice squad.

Willis was Love’s backup in Week 1. He quickly had to learn the playbook without the benefit of training camp or preseason. With Love out, Willis will suit up for the Packers as the starting quarterback less than three weeks after getting traded.

The Titans selected Willis as a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The standout quarterback from Liberty saw his draft stock rise after an impressive NFL Combine and other workouts for scouts. Tannehill was the starter for the Titans back in 2022, but he was benched in favor of Willis when he struggled early in that season.

Willis started three games for the Titans later that season when Tannehill went down with an injury. Willis posted a 1-2 record as a starter for the Titans in 2022. He appeared in eight total games and completed just 50.8% of his passes for 276 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Willis rushed 27 times for 123 yards and scored one rushing touchdown.

Willis was the third-string quarterback with the Titans last season behind Tannehill and Will Levis. He attempted only five passes last season.

The Titans named Levis the starter in 2024, and veteran Mason Rudolph won the backup job. Willis expected to start the season as the third stringer in Tennessee once again before the Titans traded him to the Packers.

Best Jordan Love Fantasy Replacement Options

If you’re not sold on Willis as a starter, then you’ll have to see which quarterbacks are currently available in your fantasy football league. Obviously, if Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) or Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Bucs) are available, you should grab them ASAP if no one else claimed them off the waiver wire. Mayfield is currently ranked #2 on ESPN’s fantasy football portal, and Stafford is ranked #13.

Some other worthy fantasy replacement options for Love include Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks), Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings), Justin Fields (Pittsburgh Steelers), and Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints). All four of these quarterbacks won in Week 1. According to ESPN, Carr is ranked #6, Smith is ranked #9, Darnold is ranked #14, and Fields is ranked #16.

No Love for Brazil in Green Bay

The Packers flew down to Brazil to play the Philadelphia Eagles in their season opener. The NFL worked with local groundskeeping crews in Sao Paulo to convert the soccer pitch at Corinthians Arena to a regulation American football field. However, the poor field conditions drew criticism from both teams. Players were spotted sliding all over the field during the nationally televised game during a rare appearance of Friday Night Football.

The Eagles won 34-29. The Packers lost the game, and their season could be derailed by Love’s injury. Love suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee on the final drive when he was wrapped up by a pair of defenders from the Eagles during a pass attempt.

MCL sprains can take anywhere from 3-6 weeks to heal, but quarterbacks are tough and could insist on returning in a week or two. The Packers did not designate Love to the IR, which requires a minimum four-week stint, so they’re hopeful he can return to action sooner than later. Even if he returns next week, how effective can he be with a recently sprained knee?

Latest Rumors: Tannehill or Winston to Green Bay?

Tannehill, 36, is at the top of the list of free agent quarterbacks who have yet to sign with a new team. It’s only a matter of time before someone shows interest in the 11-year veteran who went 81-70 as a starter with the Miami Dolphins and Titans. Tannehill’s tenure with the Titans fizzled out due to lingering injuries, and the team went in a new direction with Levis.

Tannehill was linked to numerous teams during the preseason that lacked a solid backup quarterback including the Packers, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers. However, his asking price was too high, and those teams pursued or stood pat with a more affordable backup.

The Packers narrowly missed a chance to play in last season’s NFC Championship, so they had high expectations entering this season. Their financial decision to not pursue Tannehill in the offseason could come back to haunt them. If Love is out longer than everyone expects, they could eventually give Tannehill a call.

Winston, the former #1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, is currently on the Cleveland Browns as a backup quarterback behind Deshaun Watson. There’s no shortage of drama in Cleveland right now. Winston looked awful in their first game of the season, and he was accused of sexual assault in a new lawsuit. Rabid fans in Cleveland want head coach Kevin Stefanski to bench Watson in favor of Winston.

Even though Winston struggled during his last stop with the New Orleans Saints, he has a 34-46 career record as a starter which also includes five seasons with the Tampa Bay Bucs. Over his nine-year career, Winston completed 61.2% of his passes for 22,104 yards including 141 touchdowns and 99 interceptions.

Despite the rumors of Winston heading to Green Bay, the Browns indicated they have no intentions to trade their current backup quarterback.