Packers GM Brian Gutekunst emphasizes importance of next 10 games for Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday the organization needs more time to determine if Jordan Love is the long-term answer at the quarterback position.

With 10 games remaining in the 2023 season, the Packers would like to know by the end of the season if Love is their guy.

“I think we’ve got 10 games left,” Gutekunst said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “These are going to be very important 10 games.”

Love, Green Bay’s first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Utah State, is contracted to the Packers for one more season after signing a $22.5 million extension this past offseason. The Packers started the season 2-1 under Love, but have dropped four straight games. At 2-5, they sit in the basement of the NFC North.

Love has thrown for 1,492 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight touchdowns on 57.7% passing. During the four-game losing streak, he’s thrown seven interceptions to just four touchdowns.

“I think he’s done a lot of really good things,” Gutekunst said. “Really like the way he’s responded to the adversity, how he’s led the team. Again, we’ve got to be better as a unit, and I expect that to happen over the next 10 games. And I think that we’re going through some things that we knew we would go through. We haven’t had the results that we want, but I do like the way guys are responding to things.”

Jordan Love having up and down season with Packers

Much of Green Bay’s offensive struggles can be contributed to slow starts in games. Opposing teams have outscored the Packers 73-9 combined in the first halves of the last five games. Contrast that to their play in the second half, where the Packers own a plus-42 point differential, second-best in the league.

Head coach Matt LaFleur admitted Monday it’s been difficult to fully evaluate Love’s play this season.

“I think in order to do that, I think everybody’s got to play better around him, quite frankly,” LaFleur said. “Are there some things he can do better? Absolutely. I think he’d be the first to tell you. Are there some things we can do as a staff to help our guys? Absolutely. And then, when there are plays there to be made, we’ve got to make the plays.”