Tag: Love

Nov 29, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs with the football during the first quarter against Stanford Cardinal safety Che Ojarikre (22) at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love plans to run 40 at combine

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has the wheels to turn the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine into his Saquon Barkley moment.

Love, 20, has a projected 40-yard dash time in the 4.3s and electric athleticism, the kind of traits that could inspire a storybook showing in Indianapolis this week.

Love had 40 total touchdowns as the featured back for the Fighting Irish and is No. 2 on the Field Level Media Top 100 list of prospects in the 2026 draft.

Big-play speed is a major selling point for Love in the draft. He might not be the No. 2 overall pick — where Barkley went to the Giants — but he’s very much in play as a top-10 projection because of the number of teams in that range with a need at the position.

The Arizona Cardinals (third overall), Tennessee Titans (fourth), New York Giants (fifth), Washington Commanders (seventh), New Orleans Saints (eighth) and Kansas City Chiefs (ninth) all have a case for taking Love if they believe he can be a key ingredient for their offense.

Barkley weighed in at 233 pounds and ran a 4.4 40-yard dash with a 41-inch vertical and 29 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the 2018 combine.

Love’s 40 time and vertical could beat Barkley, and his 10-yard split (1.54 for Barkley) could be blazing fast.

One of the recurring comparisons we’re hearing for Love is Darren McFadden, the Arkansas blazer who ran 4.33 in 2008.

Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten was the fastest running back at the 2025 combine (4.32). He was selected 104th overall by the Jaguars.

–Field Level Media

Packers QB Jordan Love out of protocol but won’t play vs. Vikings

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol but will not start Sunday’s regular-season finale at Minnesota.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday that Clayton Tune will start against the Vikings. Love’s backup, Malik Willis, has been dealing with shoulder and hamstring injuries.

Tune, 26, has made one appearance this season, completing one pass for 8 yards with an interception in last week’s 41-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

He has appeared in 14 career games with one start in 2023 as a member of the Arizona Cardinals, who selected him in the fifth round of that year’s draft.

Tune has completed 55.6% (15 of 27) of his passes for 78 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Packers signed quarterback Desmond Ridder, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders, to the practice squad on Wednesday.

The outcome of the game has no bearing on the playoff seeding for the Packers (9-6-1), who are locked in as the seventh seed in the NFC.

–Field Level Media

Report: Packers signing QB Desmond Ridder

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Green Bay Packers are signing quarterback Desmond Ridder to their practice squad, NFL Network reported on Wednesday.

With starter Jordan Love and backup Malik Willis both dealing with shoulder injuries, Clayton Tune is the only healthy signal-caller on the roster.

The Packers (9-6-1) are locked into the No. 7 playoff seed in the NFC and could elevate Ridder to the 53-man roster for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the host Minnesota Vikings (8-8), per the report.

Ridder, 26, was released from the Vikings’ practice squad on Dec. 2 and has not appeared in an NFL game this season.

A third-round pick by Atlanta in 2022, Ridder is 8-10 as a starter with the Falcons (2022-23) and Las Vegas Raiders (2024). He has completed 63.6% of his passes for 4,002 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, also rushing for 293 yards and five scores.

–Field Level Media

Lamar Jackson doubtful, Jordan Love questionable for Ravens-Packers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is considered doubtful to play in Saturday’s showdown with the Green Bay Packers after missing practice all week with a back contusion.

Jackson was listed as a DNP on Baltimore’s injury report for the third straight day Thursday. Tyler Huntley would step in if Jackson cannot play.

Jackson was knocked out of Sunday’s 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots with a back injury in the second quarter. The Ravens (7-8) face elimination from the playoff chase with a loss to the Packers after winning consecutive AFC North titles.

The Ravens would be eliminated this week with a loss and a Steelers victory. As it stands, Baltimore’s chances of reaching the playoffs are slim.

Winning two games would be a tall order without Jackson, who missed three games in October with a hamstring injury as Baltimore went 1-2. When Jackson returned in Week 9, the Ravens won four consecutive games to improve from their 1-5 start to the season.

On the other sideline, the Packers (9-5-1) listed quarterbacks Jordan Love and Malik Willis as questionable.

Love, who is in the concussion protocol and also nursing a left shoulder injury, was a limited participant in practice each day this week. Love left Saturday’s overtime loss to the Chicago Bears in the second quarter when he took a helmet-to-helmet blow from the Bears’ Austin Booker.

Willis relieved Love but hurt his right (throwing) shoulder in the waning moments of regulation. Then an illness was added to Willis’ line on the injury report. He sat out practice Wednesday but returned Thursday in limited fashion.

The Packers also noted that wide receiver Christian Watson and guard Sean Rhyan missed practice Thursday due to illness and are considered questionable for the home finale.

–Field Level Media

QBs Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, Julian Sayin among Heisman finalists

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love are headed to New York this weekend after being selected as finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday.

The winner will be revealed Saturday at the annual Heisman Trophy dinner.

Mendoza is seen as the favorite to bag the award after leading the Hoosiers to a 13-0 record, a Big Ten championship and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Mendoza and Sayin just went head to head Saturday night when Indiana defeated Ohio State 13-10 for the conference title. Mendoza had 222 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. Sayin finished with 258 passing yards, one TD and one pick as the Buckeyes took their first loss of the year and settled for the No. 2 playoff seed.

Mendoza, who transferred from Cal after last season, racked up 2,980 yards, 33 touchdowns and only six interceptions while completing 71.5% of his passes for Indiana. He added 240 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

Sayin, in his first season starting for the Buckeyes, threw for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns and six picks this season. He completed an FBS-best 78.4% of his throws.

Pavia, like Mendoza, engineered a turnaround for a football program that historically has known little success. It was Pavia’s second season for the Commodores after starting his career at New Mexico State. He threw for 3,192 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions and rushed for 826 yards and nine TDs in 2025.

Love ranked fourth in the country with 1,372 rushing yards and third nationally with 18 rushing touchdowns over 12 games. He added 27 catches for 280 yards and three receiving TDs.

–Field Level Media

Love-ly leap: Notre Dame RB now No. 2 in Heisman race

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Left for dead in the Heisman Trophy conversation following Notre Dame’s 0-2 start to the season, running back Jeremiyah Love is suddenly back in the picture after rushing for 171 yards and three touchdowns in the Fighting Irish’s 70-7 dismantling of Syracuse.

The performance vaulted Love from a +4000 longshot just last week to +375 at BetMGM, where he now holds the second-shortest Heisman Trophy odds.

Love was mired at +5000 for multiple weeks after the 0-2 start, but he remained on the fringe while those odds slowly shortened thanks to Notre Dame’s resurgence and the struggles of several marquee quarterbacks. Then came Saturday, when Love romped over and through the Orange’s defense and back toward the top of the Heisman race.

While it might earn him a trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony, Love is still unlikely to surpass Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The -115 favorite last week, Mendoza’s odds lengthened slightly with the Hoosiers off, but at -105 he still widened the gap from his closest competitor.

Mendoza has one regular-season game remaining at Purdue, which will take a nine-game losing streak into Friday’s matchup.

HEISMAN TROPHY ODDS*
PLAYER, POS, TEAM, OPEN, WEEK 13, CURRENT
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (+5500), (-115), (-105)
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (+5000), (+4000), (+375)
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+2000), (+225), (+400)
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt (+12500), (+2200), (+600)
Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M (+4000), (+500), (+1300)
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (+3500), (+2500), (+4000)
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (N/A), (+12500), (+15000)
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1300), (+6600), (+25000)
*BetMGM

Love’s sudden resurgence as a legitimate candidate is cause for concern for many sportsbooks. He is the biggest Heisman liability at BetMGM, where Love has been backed by 4.8% of the money wagered on this year’s winner since opening at +5000. He’s second among all players in drawing 7.0% of the total bets.

That’s behind only the 8.2% who have backed Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. He is the third biggest liability but, while still on the board, Smith is an extreme longshot at +25000.

The second biggest liability is Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, whose Heisman hopes were dashed in a recent home loss to Oklahoma. Simpson has been backed by 14.8% of the total money while briefly emerging as the Heisman favorite, but he is now being offered at +50000.

The second most money has been placed on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore with 11.5%, but he is also sitting as a +50000 longshot.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Zach Tom (50) blocks Detroit Lions defensive tackle Marcus Davenport (92) during the first quarter of their game Sunday, September 7, 2025 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Packers could be down two O-line starters for ‘TNF’ vs. Commanders

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers right tackle Zach Tom and left guard Aaron Banks may not be ready for the team’s Week 2 home game against the Washington Commanders on Thursday.

Tom picked up an oblique injury during Green Bay’s 27-13 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, while Banks is dealing with groin and ankle injuries.

The Packers had to release an injury report Monday because of the proximity to Thursday’s game, but it was estimated because the team did not practice. Tom and Banks were among six players given a DNP designation, joining defensive lineman Brenton Cox Jr. (groin), cornerback Bo Melton (shoulder), wide receiver Jayden Reed (foot) and linebacker Quay Walker (quad).

ESPN reported that there was “uncertainty” surrounding Tom’s ability to play Thursday against Washington. Tom, 26, is beginning his fourth season with the Packers and his third as a starter.

Banks, 28, joined the Packers in free agency after four years with the San Francisco 49ers.

Star edge rusher Micah Parsons made his Packers debut against the Lions and recorded one sack despite dealing with a back injury and missing most of camp amid his contract dispute with the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons was listed on Monday’s practice report as a limited participant.

Quarterback Jordan Love (left thumb) was deemed a full participant in the estimated report. Love had surgery to repair a ligament in the non-throwing thumb last month. He was 16-of-22 passing for 188 yards and two touchdowns in the opener.

–Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Thumbs up: Packers QB Jordan Love practices without restriction

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Fifteen days after surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb, Packers quarterback Jordan Love was a full participant in practice in Green Bay on Wednesday.

With the Week 1 opener at Lambeau Field in 11 days, Love’s return to practice is a welcome sight for the Packers. They host NFC North champion Detroit in the regular-season opener Sept. 7.

Love has been a limited participant in practice since hitting his hand on a helmet when he was sacked by Jay Tufele in the Packers’ 30-10 loss in their preseason opener against the New York Jets.

The Packers were 0-2 against the Lions last season. Love had one touchdown, one interception and completed 35 of 59 passes for 479 yards in two narrow defeats (24-14 and 34-31).

Love passed for 3,389 yards and 25 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 15 games (all starts) last season.

Love, 26, has completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 8,154 yards with 60 touchdowns and 25 picks in 42 career games (33 starts) since being selected by the Packers with the 26th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

He is 18-15 as a starter in his career.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love (10) walk onto the field before their game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, September 29, 2024. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Packers break protocol to give Jordan Love reps days after thumb surgery

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Packers quarterback Jordan Love rejoined practice in rainy Green Bay on Monday, days after surgery to repair ligament damage in his left thumb.

In a break from practice norms and against his own preferences, head coach Matt LaFleur used 7-on-7 work and other minor modifications to get the ball in Love’s hands with a goal of getting him ready for Week 1 of the regular season.

LaFleur repeated his personal dislike of partial team scrimmage situations and 7-on-7 drills in explaining how the Packers would work Love back into the mix. Equipment staff also used a short footstool as a perch near the height of a normal received snap, alleviating the pounding a quarterback would take working on traditional snaps behind center or in shotgun formation.

In his only previous practice since being injured on his final play of the Aug. 9 preseason opener against the New York Jets, Love essentially operated one-handed as a passer and on handoffs.

With his surgically repaired thumb heavily bandaged and covered in clear wrap or plastic in the rain on Monday, Love had no limitations when passing the ball.

Malik Willis handled first-team offense duties at quarterback and would be in line to start if Love isn’t cleared for the Sept. 7 opener against the visiting Detroit Lions.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 12

Posted on | by Field Level Media

If watching the Cleveland Browns upset the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football makes you think twice about betting on Sunday games — well, you don’t have to. If you don’t want to fall victim to the next upset, bet on one of the many NFL player props offered by online sportsbooks instead.

“Many” doesn’t really do the number of player props available for each game justice; there easily be a couple of hundred per game. But don’t worry about needing to review them all. All you need to do is take a look at our top 10 NFL player props for Week 12, listed in no particular order.

NFL Week 12: Player Props

Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders

Cooper Rush, O/U 201.5 passing yards at -115/-115 (BetMGM)
O/U 33.5 pass attempts at -102/-128 (FanDuel)
O/U 18.5 completions at -130/+100 (DraftKings)

For most of the season, the Cowboys have insisted on trying to establish the run even though they must know it isn’t a strength. But they changed course in their Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans, and Cooper Rush threw 55 passes, of which 32 were caught for 354 yards.

It might seem hard to believe after the 13-for-23, 45-yard debacle in a 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 10, but Rush is not a bad quarterback. After all, he was 5-1 as a starter when called to fill in for Dak Prescott in the 2021 and ‘22 seasons.

Just as they did when they lost 34-10 to the Texans, the Cowboys will fall behind against the Commanders and will need to pass if they are going to try to catch up. So, the volume of attempts for Rush will be there again, as will the yardage against a lackluster Washington pass defense.

Don’t expect Rush to throw the ball 50-plus times again, but his attempts aren’t likely to fall in the mid-20s, either, as in the previous two starts. Opponents are averaging 27.1 attempts per game vs. Washington — but they are also running the ball 30.5 times per game.

Dallas will not run the ball 30 times; they average 21.5 carries per game this season. Take the OVER for Rush passing yards.

If you’re going to take the OVER on his passing yards and attempts, then it almost makes sense to take the OVER for his pass completions. Opponents are completing 65.8 percent of their passes vs. the Commanders. At that rate, to clear 19.5 completions, he’ll need to throw roughly 30 passes.

Yeah, take the OVER.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants

Mike Evans, O/U 50.5 receiving yards at -115/-115 (BetMGM)
O/U 3.5 receptions at -140/+105 (BetMGM)

Baker Mayfield fared well in the first couple of games with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, but the dynamic duo suffered injuries in their Oct. 21 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Godwin is out for the season, but Evans is expected to return this week against the Giants.

If they are going to stay in the wild-card hunt, the Buccaneers will need to win this game after four consecutive losses. To that end, Mayfield probably will target his star wide receiver early and often. It would be surprising if he didn’t have four catches in the first half.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers

Christian McCaffrey, O/U 17.5 rushing attempts at +100/-130 (BetMGM)
O/U 108.5 rushing and receiving yards at -113/-115 (FanDuel)

Jordan Love, O/U 0.5 interceptions at -125/-105 (DraftKings)

With Brock Purdy out, the 49ers probably will lean on the run game. When you have the most dangerous offensive player in the NFL in your backfield — Christian McCaffrey — you should. He had 19 carries last week vs. Seattle. He’ll probably get a similar number this week, if not higher.

Without Purdy on the field and backup Brandon Allen in his place, it’s hard to know whether McCaffrey will be more productive for the passing game or the running game or equally proficient. But you typically can count on him being productive. He’s gone for 106 and 107 combined rushing and receiving yards, respectively, in the two games he’s played since his return from an injury that had sidelined him to start the season.

It would not be a stretch for him to get a few more yards and exceed a total of 108.5 rushing/receiving yards. Take the OVER.

Jordan Love has thrown at least one interception in every game he has played this season. The 49ers defense has 11 picks on the year. They’ll make it 12 — if not 13 or 14 — in this game. Take the OVER.

Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans

Tim Settle Jr. O/U .25 sacks at +105/-135 (DraftKings)
Joe Mixon, O/U 21.5 rushing attempts at -110/-120 (BetMGM)

The Houston defense is among the league leaders in sacks this season with 34. Tennessee’s quarterbacks are among the most sacked in the league. Danielle Hunter co-leads the team in sacks, making him a solid choice. However, the odds on his OVER are -176, while Tim Settle Jr. has plus money odds.

With the Titans having injury issues with the interior of the offensive line, a defensive tackle has a shot at breaking through and getting credit for at least half of a sack. Take the OVER.

The Texans have been at their best when Mixon is getting 20-plus carries; every time he has, he’s gone for 100-plus yards. It might be hard to gain 100 or more yards against the Titans’ defense, but Houston will make sure he gets his carries.

–Field Level Media