Jordan Love Is Eager To Face-Off Against Chiefs As Interim QB

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will make his first career NFL start this week and made it clear ahead of Sunday's game that he has confidence in himself and the team.

Love spoke to the media Friday for the first time since Aaron Rodgers' positive COVID-19 test and said he is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and has tested negative the past three days.

"I was a little shocked but not crazy shocked," Love said in regards to learning he would start under center this week. "Just because with Kurt testing positive earlier in the week, I kind of figured something might happen in the quarterback room."

Love said his first thoughts were simply how everything would play out with close contacts and then focusing on getting his mind right ahead of Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I didn't know what would happen but just hearing that, my initial thought was just wondering what would shake out with all of the close contacts and how things would break down and just affect all of us in the room," he said.

Two of the Packers' three quarterbacks tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week and Love said on Friday there was a point where he thought he could be next, but said he is "confident that I'm good right now."

Both Rodgers and third-string QB Benkert remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

But Love, the team's first-round draft pick in 2020, has been healthy and "locked-in" during practice and meetings this week, coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday.

"I think he's come a long way, but by no means is he a finished product," LaFleur said. "It's going to be a great opportunity for him to get his feet wet for the first time in a meaningful game, being that it's the regular season. So it'll be a great learning experience for him, and I'm just excited for his opportunity."

The 22-year-old QB took 15 snaps at the end of the Packers' blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, completing just 5-of-7 passes for 68 yards in the fourth quarter.

The Athletic reports Love is likely to be joined by All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, who was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday — the 28-year-old missed last week's Green Bay win over the previously undefeated Arizona Cardinals. Adams ranks fourth in the NFL this season with 744 yards despite missing a game.

The Packers (7-1) travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs (4-4) for Week 9's matchup on Sunday — kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CST.

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