Football’s a game of inches, but for Jordan Love, it’s become a game of days. The Packers quarterback is chomping at the bit to get back on the field, knee brace and all, just two weeks after a scary injury had Cheeseheads everywhere holding their breath.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport spilled the beans Wednesday, saying Love’s itching to suit up against the Titans this Sunday. “It is at least realistic to think that Jordan Love could play this week,” Rapoport said in The Insiders. But pump the brakes, folks – Love’s nowhere near 100%.

The young gunslinger got his bell rung with what Rapoport called a “grade one slash grade two” MCL sprain during that Brazil barnburner against the Eagles. Most folks pegged him for a month on the sidelines, minimum. But Love? He’s got other ideas.

Wednesday’s practice saw Love hobbling around with more hardware on his leg than a Home Depot. A full-length sleeve hid a brace that’d make RoboCop jealous. “The trainers are doing a good job of monitoring me,” Love told reporters on Wednesday, probably while trying not to wince. “They’ll be the ones to clear me when the time comes.”

Here’s where it gets wild. Rapoport says Love’s ready to strap on that brace and give it a go, knowing full well he’ll be about as mobile as a statue. “He can’t injure it further because of the brace he’s wearing and would want to go out and do it,” Rapoport said. Talk about playing with fire.

Green Bay’s quarterback pickle

So what’s a coach to do? Matt LaFleur’s got himself a real head-scratcher. Does he roll the dice with a gimpy Love, or stick with Malik Willis, who just led the Pack to a win last week?

LaFleur’s playing it close to the vest. “I have no idea right now [about Love’s availability for Week 3],” he said on Monday, probably while reaching for the Tums. “If he’s ready, he’ll be ready. If he’s not, then we’ll proceed with Malik.” Sounds like a man caught between a rock and a hard place.

Love’s not kidding himself about his limitations. He admitted that to “just sit in the pocket and be a pocket passer” is “not realistic.” In other words, he’d be about as mobile as a mailbox out there. The Titans‘ defense, with bruisers like Jeffery Simmons, must be licking their chops at the thought.

Meanwhile, Willis is coming off a solid showing against the Colts. He connected on 12 of 14 passes, looking more comfortable than a cat in a sunbeam. And get this – he’d be facing his old team, the Titans, who gave him the boot just a few weeks back. But Willis isn’t buying into any revenge story. “No, I could care less, man,” he said, cool as a cucumber.

As game day looms, Packers fans are left scratching their heads. Will it be Love, held together with duct tape and wishful thinking? Or Willis, the new kid on the block with a chip on his shoulder? Either way, this quarterback soap opera’s got more twists than a pretzel factory. Buckle up, Cheeseheads – it’s gonna be a wild ride.

Well, here is another insider report and some insight on predictions. Do check out this ES Think Tank episode with Doug Sanders.