Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is expected to take the field for Thursday night's preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, continuing a pattern that has seen the signal-caller suit up for August action in each of his last three seasons. Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed his plans during a Tuesday press conference, noting that while snap counts remain fluid, getting live repetitions is a vital step in establishing regular-season rhythm.
“It’s pretty fluid in regards to how many snaps,” LaFleur said, via nbcsports.com. “But I do think there’s a lot of value for all our guys to just get mentally prepared to go play a game.”
While LaFleur retains the right to alter his approach, the philosophy centers on getting the offensive process locked down before the games count in the standings. Love enters the summer following a 2024 campaign where he started all 15 games he appeared in, throwing for 3,389 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with a 96.7 passer rating, despite missing two contests early in the year due to a knee injury.
The Pittsburgh Sideline and the Will Howard Storyline
Thursday's matchup also features a notable reunion on the opposing sideline. Former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy makes his preseason debut leading the Steelers. McCarthy won Super Bowl XLV with Green Bay to cap the 2010 season, and LaFleur expressed deep respect for his predecessor when discussing the cross-conference showdown.
“First of all, how he’s always treated me. Secondly, just by what he’s accomplished here,” LaFleur said, via nbcsports.com, highlighting the rare lineage of coaches moving across storied franchises like Green Bay, Dallas, and Pittsburgh.
Meanwhile, the Steelers' quarterback situation for the opener carries its own intrigue. Head coach Mike McCarthy stated on Tuesday that he had not yet finalized playing time for his veterans, leaving open the question of whether Aaron Rodgers would take the field. For young Pittsburgh quarterback Will Howard—a sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft who missed last August due to a fractured hand—the prospect of live action brings palpable excitement after more than a year away from game-speed repetitions.
“I’m so fired up. I can’t wait for the game,” Howard said, via nbcsports.com. “I haven’t played in over a year in live game reps. I think the last time was the national championship. So, I’ve been champing at the bit for a while to get out there with the guys in a real game-like setting.”
Roster Adjustments and Injury Notes in Green Bay
As the Packers prepare to travel to Pittsburgh before visiting the Denver Broncos for their second exhibition game, roster churn continues behind the scenes. Green Bay recently claimed wide receiver Chris Hilton off waivers following his release by the Commanders, and signed wide receiver Kisean Johnson as a free agent. Those additions bolster a receiving corps featuring Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, and others.
Injury management remains a central theme for the team. Running back Josh Jacobs sat out recent practices due to a groin injury, though he is expected back soon. On the defensive side, star edge rusher Micah Parsons continues his rehabilitation from a torn ACL sustained in Week 15 against Denver. Parsons noted during an appearance on NFL Network that a Week 6 home matchup against the Dallas Cowboys represents his absolute most optimistic return target, though he stressed that integration into football activities remains a gradual process.
Evidence-Led Forecast
When the Packers and Steelers kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, expect Matt LaFleur to deploy Jordan Love and the starting offensive unit for a tightly managed window of one to two series. The tactical priority for Green Bay will be clean execution, precise timing with a deep receiver room, and avoiding early-installation mistakes. The primary counter-case against extended starter exposure centers on injury prevention—a lesson underscored by the team's strict training camp directives, including LaFleur putting a halt to backflip celebrations by injury-prone players like MarShawn Lloyd and Christian Watson. Unless an unexpected shift occurs in pre-game warmups, Love will log his required series to jump-start his mental preparation before handing the offense over to the deeper roster reserves for the remainder of the first half.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- packers.com original
- tsn.ca original
- nbcsports.com original
