Packers GM reacts to Jordan Love not practicing without contract extension

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk was among those who previously wondered if Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love could report for training camp on time but "hold in" and refuse to participate in practices and preseason games without a contract extension.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed on Monday that Love isn't practicing before he gets a new deal, but Gutekunst also sounded unconcerned.

"We completely understand where he's coming from," Gutekunst said, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

The Packers traded future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets in April 2023 and later replaced the fifth-year option attached to Love's rookie contract with a short-term extension. While the Packers started Love's first season as a full-time starter at 2-5, he ultimately guided the club to a postseason berth and to a 48-32 wild-card playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys.

There's been little reason to think since even before the start of the new league year in March that Green Bay won't ultimately pay Love. According to Pro Football Reference, the 25-year-old finished this past regular season ranked ninth in the NFL among qualified players with a 62.1 adjusted QBR, ninth with a 47.6% passing success rate, second with 32 passing touchdowns and seventh with 4,159 yards through the air.

"Yeah, I think so, but again, you never know," Gutekunst said about possibly getting an agreement done with Love before this coming weekend arrives. "We're working really hard to get that done. At the same time, the thing I have confidence in is we both want the same thing."

Per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Gutekunst added that Love’s practice absence is "not unexpected." Gutekunst also said he feels the two sides are "close" to putting pen to paper on an extension.

After Trevor Lawrence received a five-year contract extension worth up to $275M with $142M fully guaranteed at signing from the Jacksonville Jaguars in June, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that he did not believe at that time Love would accept an offer from the Packers that included less money per season than what Lawrence will make.

Love's practice decision likely is a "nothing to see here" story as of Monday but could become something to follow if he enters next week without a deal.