Jordan Love is with Packers while they practice against the Colts, but won't throw until next week

Yahoo

3 days ago

WESTFIELD, Ind. − Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love won't be taking part in any practice activity until next week at the earliest, but he is here at Grand Parks, the site of the Indianapolis Colts' training camp home.
The Packers and Colts are practicing against each other, and Love will be there to watch and help quarterbacks Malik Willis, Sean Clifford and Tyler Elgersma navigate the offense against the Colts and prepare for a preseason game meeting Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
LaFleur proclaimed what a source told the Journal Sentinel on Tuesday, that Love's surgery went as well as expected.
'He's in great spirits,' LaFleur said before practice. 'Now it's just putting the work in to get the thumb rehabbed.'
Asked if Love would be able to do some throwing right away since the injury is to his left thumb, LaFleur said probably not.
'Probably not right away,' he said. 'We anticipate there will be some sort of participation next week.'
Willis is in line to take the first-team snaps, although it's possible LaFleur will give Clifford a chance to work with the ones also. This is nothing new for Willis, who had to start two games last year just three weeks after arriving in a trade from Tennessee.
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LaFleur said he doesn't want Willis trying to do more than he normally would in a practice.
'Just be you,' LaFleur said he told him. 'I mean, that's really the expectation you have for everybody, is just go out, and not do anything different. It's not like he hasn't been in this position. It was great. He's had that experience with us of being the guy and nothing really changes.
'The focus is on doing your job to the best of your ability.'
Matt LaFleur counting on players keep their heads during two-hour practice vs. Colts
In previous joint practices, LaFleur has not allowed there to be 1-on-1 drills because 'that's usually where there's a lot of chatter.'
LaFleur and Colts coach Shane Steichan decided they would do the drills and rely on their players to stay calm and not get into any extra-curriculars.
'This is the first time we've done that,' he said. 'So, we'll see how that goes.'
Asked how confident he was this practice wouldn't feature some of the melees other joint practices have endured, sometimes ending them prematurely, LaFleur said:
'I hate to place a bet on that, but here's the expectation. I expect our guys to compete to the best of their ability and keep it clean. I think that's reasonable to expect. I mean, we haven't had any of those in practice. I don't see why it has to happen.
'The beauty is, they're an AFC team. We're an NFC team. We don't play each other in the regular season. If we play each other at the end of this thing, that's a win for everybody. So the goal is just to get better today.'
Receiver Romeo Doubs won't practice but running back MarShawn Lloyd will
LaFleur said he thought receiver Romeo Doubs was going to practice but was told at the last minute that he was being held out.
Doubs bowed out of practice Aug. 12 after falling hard on the ground. LaFleur said the injury is to his back.
LaFleur said running back MarShawn Lloyd, who has missed most of training camp with a groin injury, will receive some snaps. Lloyd took part in practice in pads for the first time Aug. 11 and also worked in pads the next day.
It doesn't sound like he'll get a full complement of snaps, but LaFleur said he's hopeful to get him some work. He did not say whether Lloyd would play in the Aug. 16 game.
Packers will have to adjust to Colts' schemes
After weeks of practicing against themselves, the Packers will see some looks they're not used to.
They saw a few in the preseason game against the New York Jets, but they might see more because the game is not nationally televised and available for other teams to study. However, the Colts are charging admission to the practice and, under NFL rules, scouts for other teams can attend if a team charges its fans.
'I think it's very productive,' LaFleur said of the work against the Colts. 'I think any chance you get an opportunity to go against another club, it's different looks, different people, you really have to trust your rules.
'I think it relates well to the early part of the season when there's unschooled looks. I just think there's a different energy when you're going against another team. So, we're really excited about it.'
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Jordan Love is with Packers while they practice against the Colts