Aaron Rodgers had to leave the field injured against the Philadelphia Eagles. Backup quarterback Jordan Love didn’t manage a comeback with the Green Bay Packers, but showed a decent performance. So the pressure is mounting on Rodgers.

Munich – When the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles ended, the two starting quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Jalen Hurts did not high-five each other as usual.

The reason was simple: Rodgers was already injured in the dressing room at the time. He was replaced by Jordan Love, who rattled off with Hurts instead. So there they were: Love and Hurts.

Some people will surely have thought of the saying “Love Hurts” at this sight – now, with Rodgers of all people, this could come true in its very own way.

Rodgers on nine interceptions

Finally, the two Green Bay Packers quarterbacks also showed two different faces last night. One banged up, flawed and ultimately replaced by injury. The other young, motivated and with a performance that revealed his potential.

While Rodgers threw two touchdown passes to Randall Cobb and Aaron Jones until he was substituted due to injury, he also threw two interceptions. The first came after only a few minutes of play. The second put Rodgers’ interception total on the season at nine.

Rodgers has to go out in the third quarter

The rookie quarterback went into the game banged up anyway, with his right thumb giving the 38-year-old problems. However, the reason for the substitution was another injury. Rodgers suffered a blow to his ribs in the second quarter. He then did not continue in the third quarter.

The Packers announced after the game that it was also likely a rib area and abdominal muscle injury.

So an outing next Sunday against the Chicago Bears is questionable. Rodgers himself, meanwhile, plans to be on the field, even if the final diagnosis is not there yet. “If I’m fit, I’ll play. I may not be fit on Wednesday, but as long as there’s no major structural damage, I’ll try to get back on the field,” the Packers veteran said.

LaFleur: “Love did a good job “

But in case of a breakdown, Love is ready. With the good performances he has already shown in the past, he has proven several times that he can replace Rodgers. In his first drive against the Eagles, Love fired a pass to rookie receiver Christian Watson, who completed the play with a 63-yard touchdown.

The head coach praised him for this after the game. “He really did a good job. He was ready, he was confident, he showed exactly what we see from him every day in practice,” Matt LaFleur said about his backup quarterback. Those attributes, that determination from Love are what many Packers fans are currently missing from Rodgers.

Green Bay: Playoffs a long way off

Meanwhile, the question in Green Bay is almost no longer if, but when Love will replace Rodgers. Rodgers, of course, has little interest in a changing of the guard. Not without reason, if you look at the numbers and successes of the reigning MVP from the past.

But the current season is a different story. With a record of 4-8, the Packers are in the worst position they have been in a long time and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

The playmaker remains optimistic despite the mediocre performances. “We’ve got five games to go, we’ve got to win all five and we probably need a little bit of help,” Rodgers said. “As long as we still have a mathematical chance of playoffs, I want to play. “

Watch replacement at Packers?

And if that should no longer be the case? Does Love then have “permission” to enter the race as a starter? Given Rodgers’ legend status, the young playmaker will likely have to continue to be patient.

However, should Rodgers finish the season with similar performances as in the past weeks and without making the playoffs, something might be in the offing for the upcoming season in Green Bay.

And then Rodgers will not only be hurting his thumb, abdominal muscles and ribs, but also Jordan Love. Because everyone knows: Love hurts.