GREEN BAY – After returning to action sooner than expected from his season-opening knee injury and playing through a groin injury – one he suffered on the opening possession – for most of last Sunday’s win in Jacksonville, Jordan Love showed he has the toughness, the pride and the dedication to play through the pain.
But the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback was asked Wednesday if he had the strength to make an even tougher decision: no play this Sunday in the decisive NFC North matchup with the Detroit Lions and let Malik Willis start in his place?
“Yes. (I) try to push him as much as I can throughout the week, but if it’s not ready, if it’s not time to go, (I) definitely don’t try to push (to play),” Love said after sitting out practice on Wednesday as the Packers (6-2) prepared for their matchup with the Lions (6-1) at Lambeau Field. “Because, as we always say, the season is long. (I) definitely want to be available until the end of the season.”
Love certainly hasn’t ruled out playing against the Lions, calling it “realistic” to play and stressing that the groin he injured on third down against the Jaguars “definitely feels better.”
Asked if he was comfortable going into Sunday’s game without practicing all week, Love said, “Obviously not practicing during the week is not the ideal format to try to play, (but) if that’s the scenario, I know I’ll be fine . But it’s definitely not the ideal scenario going into a big week.”
Love’s injury gradually worsened during last week’s game, and he finally admitted enough was enough on the Packers’ first offensive drive of the second half.
Head coach Matt LaFleur, who has never tipped an opponent, said the plan this week with Love was to “just take it one day at a time and see where he’s at by the end of the week.”
LaFleur did not say whether he expects Love to participate in Thursday’s practice, which is usually the most important of the week.
“He’s moving better. “We’ll see,” Lafleur said. “Sure, we’ll push the envelope. I know he wants to play. But we’ll see where he is by the end of the week.”
Also as a factor in the calculation of whether love should play? The growing confidence of players and coaches in Willis, who led the team to back-to-back wins in September when Love was sidelined with a left knee injury.
Asked how much more comfortable he is playing Willis now compared to Week 2, LaFleur said, “A lot more. He has a good understanding of what we are trying to achieve, the techniques and the fundamentals. So, I would say a lot more confident.”
LaFleur pointed to the fact that against the Jaguars, he didn’t shy away from calling some of the offensive plays that were meant for Love after Willis took over.
“I feel like it’s a different time, a different situation,” Willis said of how far he’s come. “I just try to take it one day at a time, keep trying to get better.”
There’s also this: Not only has Willis shown he can be effective, but with next week’s bye, Love will have three full weeks to recover from the injury.
If Love doesn’t play against the Lions, it will be 20 days since he collapsed outside the Packers’ sideline last Sunday while trying to leave the game — “My leg just locked up, so I just went down,” he said — and a kickoff for the game the Packers on Nov. 17 with the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
On the other hand, a matchup with the Lions, who have won five straight and put up an astounding 172 points in their last four games, will go a long way in determining who wins the NFC North, which looks like the most competitive division in football.
And while he insisted he would make the smart decision, Love also admitted the possibility of needing to score plenty of points to beat the high-flying Lions – and the inherent importance of the game – was also on his mind.
“I think there’s (a factor),” Love said. “But at the same time, no matter who we played, with any injury, I’ll try to get back as soon as possible. I want to be there for the boys and my team.
“So I think whoever it was, I would definitely try to get back as quickly as possible, even if it was a bye next week. (But) it’s obviously a big opponent in the division, so I’m going to do everything I can to try to come back.”
Photos: Packers overcome injury to key player in latest narrow win

Ventrell Miller of the Jacksonville Jaguars stops Josh Jacobs of the Green Bay Packers during the first half Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Javon Bullard of the Green Bay Packers tries to stop Tank Bigsby of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers’ Josh Jacobs runs during the first half Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers’ Tucker Kraft reacts after a long reception in the first half on Sunday.
John Bazemore, Associated Press

Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs for a touchdown in the first half Sunday.
John Bazemore, Associated Press

Jacksonville Jaguars’ Tank Bigsby drives during the first half on Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Romeo Dubs of the Green Bay Packers catches a pass in front of De’Antre Prince of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half Sunday.
John Bazemore, Associated Press

Jacksonville Jaguars’ Christian Kirk goes over Green Bay Packers’ Xavier McKinney after a catch in the first half on Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Jacksonville Jaguars’ Christian Kirk runs past Green Bay Packers’ Casean Nixon, left, after a catch during the first half Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers throws as he is hit by Tyler Lacy of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half on Sunday.
John Bazemore, Associated Press

Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a pass in front of Xavier McKinney of the Green Bay Packers during the first half Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love throws during the first half on Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Jacksonville Jaguars’ Tank Bigsby drives in the second half on Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs for a first down in the second half on Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars congratulates Brian Thomas Jr. after catching a touchdown in the second half on Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers’ Josh Jacobs goes over Jacksonville Jaguars’ Ventrell Miller for a touchdown in the second half Sunday.
John Bazemore, Associated Press

Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a touchdown pass in the second half Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars recovers his own fumble in the second half on Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers’ Josh Jacobs runs during the second half Sunday.
John Bazemore, Associated Press

Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers intercepts a pass intended for Tim Jones of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half on Sunday.
John Bazemore, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis runs the ball during Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gary McCullough, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers’ Jaden Reed makes a first catch on Jacksonville Jaguars’ Darnell Savage during the second half Sunday.
John Bazemore, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers’ Brandon McManus scores the game-winning field goal in the final seconds Sunday in Jacksonville, Florida.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers intercepts a pass intended for Parker Washington of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half Sunday.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press