Willis completed four of five pass attempts for 56 yards and a touchdown while rushing four times for 23 yards in Sunday's 30-27 win over Jacksonville. Willis entered Sunday's contest in the third quarter after starter Jordan Love (groin) exited due to injury. Green Bay's backup performed well in the win, holding a lead he inherited early in the second half. Willis would be making his third start in place of Love should the latter sit out next Sunday's tilt against the Lions. In two prior starts for Green Bay, Willis produced three touchdowns and did not throw an interception.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Malik Willis news
Team
Green Bay Packers
Birthdate
5/25/1999 (25)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'1", 225 lbs
Draft Info
2022: Rd 3; Pk (TEN)
Birthplace
Atlanta, GA, USA
Position
QB
College
Liberty
Experience
3 seasons
Career History
Green Bay Packers
2024-Present
(1 season)
Tennessee Titans
2022-2024
(3 seasons)
Willis completed four of five pass attempts for 56 yards and a touchdown while rushing four times for 23 yards in Sunday's 30-27 win over Jacksonville. Willis entered Sunday's contest in the third quarter after starter Jordan Love (groin) exited due to injury. Green Bay's backup performed well in the win, holding a lead he inherited early in the second half. Willis would be making his third start in place of Love should the latter sit out next Sunday's tilt against the Lions. In two prior starts for Green Bay, Willis produced three touchdowns and did not throw an interception.
Willis completed 13 of his 19 passes for 202 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 30-14 win over the Titans. He added six rushes for 73 yards and an additional touchdown. Willis drew his second consecutive start, this one coming against the Titans, who traded him for a seventh-round pick in late August. It wasn't a big surprise to see Willis excel as a rusher, and he played a key role in that regard in each of the Packers' first two possessions by finding the end zone from five yards away and then accounting for 57 yards on the ground on the Green Bay's second drive that resulted in a field goal. What was more unexpected was his ability as a passer, as Willis was able to accurately distribute the ball to skill-position players while recording four completions of at least 30 yards -- highlighted by a 30-yard touchdown toss to Emanuel Wilson midway through the third quarter. Jordan Love (knee) is likely to be back for a Week 4 divisional matchup with Minnesota, but Willis has filled in admirably and gone 2-0 as a starter to this point.
Willis will be the Packers' starting quarterback for Sunday's game at Tennessee with Jordan Love (knee) inactive, Mike Spofford of the team's official site reports. Willis is earning his second consecutive start in place of Love, who managed three straight limited practices before being listed as questionable for Week 3 action. Love clearly has made progress in his recovery from an MCL sprain that he sustained in the season opener, but the Packers again will exercise caution with their franchise quarterback. During last Sunday's win against the Colts, Willis completed 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while taking six carries for 41 yards.
Willis is likely to start at quarterback for the Packers in Sunday's Week 3 game against the Titans due to Jordan Love (knee) not being expected to suit up, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Love was able to practice in a limited fashion all week and was labeled as questionable on Friday's injury report, but it appears he'll sit out at least one more game while recovering from an MCL sprain in his left knee. Willis may have made that decision a little easier with his performance last week, when he completed 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while leading the Packers to a victory against Indianapolis. Love hasn't officially been ruled out yet, but if he does miss the contest, Willis is in line to start, with Sean Clifford serving as his backup.
Willis completed 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and added six rushes for 41 yards in the Packers' 16-10 win over the Colts on Sunday. Willis proved more than competent with the limited gameplan he was tasked with running, and both Josh Jacobs (151 rushing yards) and his defense (three interceptions, one sack) did plenty of heavy lifting. The 2022 third-round pick also was effective as a rusher, and he did average a solid 8.7 yards per attempt on his 14 drop backs. Willis' one touchdown toss went to Dontayvion Wicks from 14 yards out late in the first quarter, and he next takes on his former Titans squad on the road in a Week 3 road matchup as Love continues his multi-week recovery.
Willis will start in place of QB Jordan Love (knee) with the latter inactive for Sunday's game versus the Colts, Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports. At least for Week 2, this was the likeliest outcome for Green Bay's quarterback room after Love suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee in the season-opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil. Based on a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network earlier Sunday, Love is targeting a return to action Week 5 on the road against the Rams, which would give Willis two more starts in addition to Sunday's nod, while Sean Clifford backs him up. In 12 career appearances (three starts), Willis has completed 35 of 67 passes for 350 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions, rushed 32 times for 144 yards and one touchdown and fumbled four times (three lost).
Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that Willis will start Sunday's game against the Colts over Sean Clifford if Jordan Love (knee) isn't cleared to play, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports. LaFleur didn't officially rule Love out for Week 2, but he said Willis will start until the franchise QB is ready to return. Reports have linked Love to a 3-to-6-week recovery timeline due to an MCL sprain, so though LaFleur is still leaving the door open for Love to play Sunday and said he won't go on IR, per Bill Huber of SI.com, it seems likely that Willis will start versus Indianapolis. Willis joined the Packers via trade from the Titans in the last week of August, so the 2022 third-round pick presumably isn't yet fully acclimated to his new offensive scheme. That could result in Green Bay deploying a run-heavy attack headlined by Josh Jacobs on Sunday.
Willis is expected to start at quarterback in the Packers' Week 2 home game against the Colts on Sept. 15, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has yet to comment on the team's plans at quarterback for Week 2 and likely won't until the team resumes practicing during the upcoming week, but Willis appears poised to take over for Jordan Love (knee), who suffered an MCL sprain in Friday's 34-29 loss to the Eagles in Brazil. As Glazer notes, the Packers received better news than anticipated regarding Love, who suffered a "Grade 1 or 2" sprain, which is considered a "2-to-4-week injury." With that in mind, Willis doesn't look as though he'll be in store for a long-term stint atop the depth chart if he does in fact take over as the team's new starter. The Packers acquired Willis from the Titans in the final week of August, so he didn't have a chance to play in any of Green Bay's preseason contests before he came on to replace Love for the final six seconds of Friday's loss. Willis has appeared in parts of 12 games (three starts) over his three-year NFL career, completing 35 of 67 pass attempts for 350 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while taking 15 sacks and carrying 32 times for 144 yards and another score. The Packers would presumably lean on a run-heavy game plan while Willis fills in for Love.
Willis did not complete the lone pass he attempted in Friday's 34-29 loss to the Eagles. Willis has been a Packer for less than two weeks, but he took the field for the final two plays of Friday's contest after starting quarterback Jordan Love (lower leg) was forced from the game. Love's status remains up in the air, but if he is forced to miss any time, Green Bay will need to turn to either Willis, Sean Clifford -- who is on the practice squad but has been with the Packers since being drafted by the team in 2023 -- or a quarterback outside the organization.