Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love gives himself a “realistic” chance to play Sunday against the visiting Detroit Lions, even if he doesn’t practice all week because of a groin injury.

Love didn’t practice on Wednesday, when he was limited to being a spectator and rode an exercise bike during the stretching period. He had strained his groin and exited in the second half of the Packers’ 30-27 victory last Sunday over the host Jacksonville Jaguars.

“Yeah, obviously not practicing during the week is not the ideal format for trying to play a game,” Love said on Wednesday. “Like I said, things happen, if that’s the scenario, I know I’ll be fine. But definitely it’s not the ideal scenario for going into a big week.”

Still, Love called it “realistic” that he could be on the field to face the Lions (6-1), who lead the NFC North by a half-game over the Packers (6-2).

Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur will have something to say about Love playing on Sunday, but as of Wednesday he said it “potentially” could happen.

“He’s moving around better,” LaFleur said. “We’ll see, again, we’ll take it one day at a time. Certainly, yeah, we’ll push the envelope with that. I know he wants to play, but we’ll see where he’s at by the end of the week.”

Love said he will try to get back this week, even though the team has a bye next week. Love understands he has to show LaFleur that he is able to protect himself.

“I think just being able to play, move around in the pocket and not trying to hurt myself further by playing … I think that’s what he means by that,” Love said. “But for me, just being able to move around a little bit and just be myself out there playing and not just trying to be stuck in the pocket not being able to move if I need to move.”

If Love isn’t ready to play, Malik Willis will be behind center. Willis had replaced Love in Weeks 2 and 3 when he was out due to a sprained MCL in his left knee, and the former Tennessee Titan entered in the third quarter last Sunday. Love appeared to get hurt in the first quarter and limped through several series.

Love, who turns 26 on Saturday, has passed for 1,547 yards, 15 touchdowns and a co-league-high nine interceptions in six starts this season.

Willis, 25, is 29-of-39 passing (74.4 percent) for 380 yards, three TDs and no picks in four games (two starts) in his first season with the Packers.

Green Bay was without Love at Wednesday’s session as well as running back Josh Jacobs (ankle), cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and three starting offensive linemen in left tackle Rasheed Walker (knee), left guard Elgton Jenkins (glute) and center Josh Myers (wrist).

–Field Level Media

An MRI confirmed that Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love strained his groin in the Packers’ win at Jacksonville, the NFL Network reported Monday.

Love’s status is day-to-day and he has a chance to play in Week 9 at home against the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (6-1), per the report.

The Packers improved to 6-2 with Sunday’s 30-27 win over the Jaguars.

Love, who was sidelined for two games earlier this season with a sprained MCL in his left knee, appeared to reinjure the knee while throwing an incomplete pass with 11:50 remaining in the first quarter. He later went into the medical tent and returned to the game.

He limped through several series before the team announced he had a groin injury. He was replaced in the third quarter by Malik Willis, who played the rest of the game and guided the final drive that culminated with Brandon McManus’ game-winning 24-yard field goal as time expired.

Love finished 14-of-22 passing for 196 yards and one interception. Willis went 4 of 5 for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Love, who turns 26 on Saturday, has passed for 1,547 yards, 15 touchdowns and a league-high nine interceptions in six starts this season.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love suffered a groin injury and left early in the second half of the Packers’ 30-27 victory over the host Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Love, who was sidelined for the second and third games of the season with a sprained MCL in his left knee, appeared to re-injure the knee while throwing an incomplete pass with 11:50 remaining in the first quarter. He later went into the medical tent and returned to the game.

He limped through several series before being replaced in the third quarter by Malik Willis, who played the remainder of the game and guided the final drive culminating with kicker Brandon McManus’ 24-yard field goal as time expired.

Love finished 14-of-22 passing for 196 yards and one interception. Willis went 4 of 5 for 56 yards and a touchdown as Green Bay improved to 6-2.

Selected by Green Bay in the first round (26th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, Love has passed for 1,547 yards, 15 touchdowns and a league-leading nine interceptions this season.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is expected to start against the visiting Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, three-plus weeks after he sprained the MCL in his left knee, according to multiple reports.

Love practiced all week and was listed Friday as questionable on the injury report, the same status he had the previous two weeks but was inactive for both games.

Love, 25, said that he felt like he was “close” to being ready to start last week at Tennessee. He was limited in Friday’s practice and wore a brace on his left knee.

He had four total touchdowns in his last start against the Vikings, including one on the ground.

“I’m trying to push it and I’ve been trying to get back as fast as I can no matter who the opponent was,” Love said.

Love was 17-for-34 passing for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the season-opening 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 6 in Brazil. He was injured in the final seconds.

Malik Willis led the Packers to consecutive wins while Love was out, completing 73.5 percent of his passes for 324 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Willis is also averaging 9.5 yards per carry, rushing for 114 yards on 12 carries.

Packers quarterback Sean Clifford, who had been elevated to the active squad to serve as Willis’ backup the previous two weeks, remained on the practice squad Saturday.

Last season, Love went 9-8-0 in starting all 17 regular-season games. Love completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He also rushed 50 times for 247 yards and four TDs.

The Packers reached the second round of the NFC playoffs, as he was 37 of 55 (67.3 percent) for 466 yards, five TDS and two picks.

Love signed a four-year, $220 million contract extension in July, including $155 million guaranteed and a then NFL-record $75 million signing bonus. Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys has since received an $80 million signing bonus.

–Field Level Media