Jordan Love has had an up-and-down first season as the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. The man Love replaced isn’t ready to panic.
Love largely struggled over the Packers’ past two outings — both losses. He threw a combined five interceptions against just one touchdown in Weeks 4 and 5 against the Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively.
Love’s play has waned significantly compared to his performance in the first three weeks when Green Bay went 2-1. The 24-year-old QB tossed seven touchdowns against and just one interception in Weeks 1 through 3.
Love’s predecessor Aaron Rodgers reminded Packers fans in an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday to remain patient with his successor. The 39-year-old saw Love’s struggles as the usual “growing pains” that even Rodgers had gone through during his own first season as a full-time starter 15 years ago.
“There’s going to be growing pains. I had growing pains my rookie year,” said Rodgers. “We all go through it. … He’s going to be just fine. Like I said, he’s a great kid and they’ve got a young team. … I would just say to the Packers fans, just take some deep breaths. Just trust this kid.”
Rodgers, just like Love, started off strong in his first season as QB1. Rodgers won his first two games and threw four touchdowns with no interceptions in those contests.
The Packers then proceeded to lose three straight and fell to a 2-3 record. Love and the Packers find themselves with a similar 2-3 record heading into Week 6.
It’s not the first time Rodgers has expressed his support of Love. The New York Jets QB sent Love a congratulatory text message following the Packers’ win in Week 1.
There are no guarantees Love garners even a fraction of Rodgers’ success in Green Bay, but five weeks of play hardly defines what kind of career the 2020 first-round pick will ultimately have.
