Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has major shoes to fill, taking over for Aaron Rodgers as the team’s starting QB, but FS1’s Colin Cowherd wasn’t impressed by his first preseason appearance Friday.
Love’s numbers in a 36–19 win over the Bengals were solid but not spectacular, completing 70-percent of his passes for 46 yards and leading a touchdown drive on a short field during his two series of work.
But Cowherd was critical of Love’s play, pointing out his low yards-per-attempt and a key miss to tight end Luke Musgrave on third down.
“The biggest throw of the game, clean pocket, wide-open tight end, he not only missed it, he missed it badly,” Cowherd said. “Bro, it’s Year 4 in the NFL. That’s a layup. That’s bad… bad miss for a college quarterback.”
He later called Love a “game manager."
"He's a game manager. There's no special there."
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) August 14, 2023
— @ColinCowherd says why Jordan Love didn't wow him in preseason debut pic.twitter.com/kwGg8bDTvu
Cowherd’s primary complaint with Love seems to be a lacking “wow” factor. He pointed to other dynamic young QBs like Justin Fields and Colts rookie Anthony Richardson as having a different level of talent as Love.
“If you’re still wearing floaties in Year 4 in the pool, you’re not Michael Phelps,” Cowherd said. “Jordan Love had the cleanest preseason pocket of any quarterback Thursday on. He had the least pressure and they’re still babysitting him.”
How Love handles his first season as starter is a huge storyline to track in the NFC this fall. Cowherd doesn’t seem to be buying the hype.
