GREEN BAY – While head coach Matt LaFleur left the possibility “pretty open” that Jordan Love could start at quarterback on Sunday if he is medically cleared, the Packers are working hard to prepare Malik Willis for the game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Willis, who was acquired at the end of training camp as a transfer from Tennessee, has been in Green Bay less than three weeks, so the challenge ahead for him and the Packers goes beyond the scenario of a typical backup QB.
“The reality is I just got here, so it’s going to be a little bit of a full-on thing,” Willis said of studying the playbook and upcoming game plan. “I’ve been working pretty much around the clock since I got here. You try to come in and be ready when you’re called.”
To Willis’ credit, he is not fazed by the emergency response and difficult circumstances. When asked if he was nervous, he revealed his calm, collected demeanor by replying, “Nervous about what? … It’s Wednesday.”
That response also spoke to Willis following his own process to prepare for the game. LaFleur emphasized that this is the difference between working with a rookie or first-time starter and a player with Willis’ NFL experience, limited as it may be.
Part of that process will be going through the game plan with the coaches after three days of training and prioritizing what feels good to him and what doesn’t feel so good before the weekend.
“He needs to communicate with us and let us know where he stands,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, we’ll go through it at the end of the week and probably cross some things out if he doesn’t feel comfortable with it and put a star on the things he really likes.”
“I’m confident he’ll tell me if something makes him uncomfortable.”
The Colts defense that Willis will face struggled to stop the run in Week 1 against Houston, allowing over 200 yards of rushing play. From the Packers’ perspective, however, it’s not as simple as relying solely on running success, as the Colts will focus on fixing their biggest weakness from the opening game.
They also know the unusual situation Willis is in and will plan accordingly. One change the Packers could make would be to schedule planned runs for the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Willis, who rushed for 95 yards in his three starts for Tennessee as a rookie.
Be that as it may, Willis’ offensive colleagues know that it is as much up to them as it is to their potential new starting quarterback to find a certain offensive rhythm despite the big change.
“Everyone has to be on the same page and really listen to the coaches’ game plan,” tight end Tucker Kraft said. “This is going to be an important game for everyone on offense who has to focus on the game plan.”
Receiver Dontayvion Wicks added: “Yeah, we can all help him by doing our 1/11, whether it’s blocking him, letting him run free or getting the ball. It’s all up to us. I think our receivers want to help. That’s what we’re going to do.”
Willis is used to having to learn new things quickly. He played for several offensive coordinators during his two-plus years in Tennessee, so he developed helpful study habits for translating the language of a playbook, processing new concepts and “connecting the dots” with past experiences.
He’s focused on taking this trip one day at a time, but he’s fully aware that it also includes a learning session for an opportunity he never would have seen coming three weeks ago when he was still in Nashville with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2022.
“I only played three games and was a freshman, call it what you want … I wasn’t ready,” Willis said. “But I had to come in and I’m a different player than I was back then.”
“It’s not about what you know, it’s about what you can prove on the field. You know what I mean?”
