Troy Aikman expects Jordan Love to be ready as Packers' starting quarterback

Jordan Love‘s first season as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback is swiftly approaching — and nothing but positives have come out of training camp thus far. Even NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman is backing the inexperienced young QB.

“He should be ready, because he has been there as long as he has. He’s had a chance to watch, as I said, a league MVP perform,” Aikman said, via NFL Live. “You learn a lot from that as well. But I think there’s a bit of an unknown. I think the way the Packers got him signed this year, coming into the season, is really a testament to maybe some uncertainty that they have. This will be a big year for him to prove it.”

Having thrown 606 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions over his two-year NFL career, Love lacks experience — but standing behind Aaron Rodgers during his final years with the franchise gives him invaluable experience heading into his first year as the starter.

Regardless of his lack of experience, his teammates are completely behind him. Running back AJ Dillion said that “Everybody would run through a wall for him.” Fellow RB Aaron Jones told media that he, and the rest of the team, has Love’s back heading into his first season as QB1. And then wideout Romeo Doubs went as far as saying that he doesn’t really see the big difference between Love and Aaron Rodgers.

After all, Doubs catches passes from Love on a daily basis, and did so with Rodgers a year ago — so in theory, shouldn’t he know best? The Packers went ahead and locked Love down with a two-year contract extension, so it seems that Green Bay feels the same way.

On top of that, Doubs said there has been a noticeable progression from Love between this time last season compared to now. He believes Love will help keep the Packers’ tradition with their historically winning ways despite the bevy of departures this offseason. He’s a blank slate that can turn out to get a flop, or the next great Packers QB. Only time will tell.

The Packers kick their 2023 season off on a hot note with a road trip to the division rival Chicago Bears — where the Bears have opened as 2.5-point favorites, according to Vegas Insider. Love won’t play his first game in Lambeau Field until Week 3 when the New Orleans Saints come to town.