When the Green Bay Packers acquired Malik Willis just before the start of the 2024 NFL season via a trade with the Tennessee Titans, many viewed him more as a practice QB who could help prepare the team against dual-threat QBs.
That perception did not last long, as Willis is now forced to take on an emergency QB1 role amid the injury suffered by Jordan Love back in the Packers’ 34-29 loss in Week 1 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil.
Green Bay Packers’ Matt LaFleur offers thoughts on Malik Willis
With Love expected to miss up to six weeks, Willis is in line to make his first start with the Packers this coming Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field. For Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur, Willis is ready for the challenge.
“He’s put a lot of time and effort into this thing,” LaFleur said, per Packers.com editor Mike Spofford. “He’s grinded. He’s learned the terminology and is able to spit out the play calls, and we’ve got confidence in him. If he’s given a full week of preparation, a full week of practice, I’ve got confidence he’ll go out there and perform at a high level.”
Willis played just a couple of snaps to finish the Eagles game, with Love exiting with a lower-body injury. Before that, Willis had only appeared in 11 NFL games with just three starts when he was still with the Titans. Even with minimal experience, Willis will be tested right away as a starter for Green Bay.
In his three NFL starts thus far, Willis accumulated 234 passing yards and three interceptions on 25-of-49 completions.
