Who Should I Start? Malik Willis or Brock Purdy

Tuesday, August 19, 12:31 PM

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that backup quarterback Malik Willis will play in the preseason finale on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers also plan on playing some or most of their starters, at least for a little bit. We would be surprised if starting QB Jordan Love (thumb) plays this weekend after having a minor surgery on his left (non-throwing) thumb last week. The 26-year-old Willis went 6-for-14 for 83 yards on the first three possessions of the second preseason game last weekend against the Indianapolis Colts. Love is fully expected to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September, so Willis is primed to open the season as Green Bay's backup signal-caller. The former third-rounder by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 played in seven games in his first year with the Packers in 2024 and led the team to two wins with Love sidelined by injury.

Wednesday, November 5, 5:57 PM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) will be limited in the first practice of the week on Thursday, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Purdy has only played in two games this year and not since aggravating a turf-toe injury in the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. While the 25-year-old signal-caller has made progress, he has yet to upgrade to a full practice, which will be required of him before he's cleared to start again. It puts his status firmly up in the air for another week for the Week 10 divisional clash against the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday. The good news is that the 49ers plan for Purdy to take on more first-team reps in practice this week, which could mean that he's on the cusp of making his return. If Purdy is unable to gain clearance to play against the Rams, Mac Jones will make his eighth start of the year. We should have more clarity on the situation later in the week.