Jordan Love returned to Packers practice six days after left-thumb ligament surgery, taking part in everything except 11-on-11 drills. The team shielded the thumb with a wrap and a rain bag, and drill shapes were adjusted to keep contact low—snaps from a stool for under-center plays and ball-handling from shotgun to avoid thumb stress. In two added 7-on-7 periods, Love went 16 of 24, with two interceptions but a pinpoint corner-route TD to Matthew Golden, signaling only small-step progress despite the injury.

Malik Willis handled all starting quarterback reps in full-team sessions, while Love continues to be the focal point for the Sept. 9 opener vs. Detroit. The Packers have joint practice with Seattle on Thursday before a preseason finale with Seattle, and 16 players missed practice due to injuries, including Banks, Monk, Clark and Van Ness. Romeo Doubs returned from a back issue, and Golden’s connection with Love hints at depth options for fantasy managers as the season approaches.

Houston’s offense flashed early in the preseason, with CJ Stroud finding Nico Collins on Houston’s second drive, continuing last season’s momentum and signaling a potential high-floor target for fantasy managers if the Texans ride their rookie QB’s development. Collins has shown reliable hands and a growing connection with Stroud, making him a steady Week 1 consideration in fantasy leagues that prize target share.

Cleveland’s rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel had a rough NFL debut, uncorking a pick-six that underscored the learning curve for a third-round rookie in a pro system. The playbook will likely tighten around him as camp continues, giving him upside in dynasty formats but limited redraft appeal until he demonstrates tighter decision-making and consistent accuracy under game pressure.

Other notable notes included AJ Dillon snagging a batted pass, a reminder of backfield players’ receiving skill and versatility in favorable game scripts for fantasy handcuffs. DTR’s sequence—throwing into pressure and a lineman’s tipped pass that ended as a negative—illustrates the volatility of rookie QB outcomes, with Dillon capitalizing on the chaos in a memorable fashion for those tracking backfield usage.

Malik Willis showcased escapability on a critical fourth down, reinforcing why teams value his rushing floor even as the drive stalled and produced no points. The Packers’ willingness to let him operate in giants’ spots adds a layer of intrigue for deeper fantasy rosters and DFS lineups that bank on quarterback mobility in suboptimal down-and-distance situations.

The evening also highlighted a few budding connections, notably Stroud-to-Collins for a score on Houston’s opening drives, which could portend a more dynamic Texans aerial attack if the coaching staff continues to emphasize quick-hitting throws and misdirection concepts that leverage Collins’ after-the-catch ability. Overall, the night offered a blend of youth movement, learning experiences, and real-time chemistry shaping fantasy expectations for the fall.

Jordan Love’s left-thumb ligament injury in the Packers’ preseason opener prompted a ulnar collateral ligament repair in Los Angeles this week. The goal is Week 1 readiness, with Love not yet throwing and only limited practice expected next week as the team aims to finish camp healthy. The surgery shifts early-season expectations, nudging Green Bay toward a sturdier run game and short-range passing while Love rebuilds throwing trust in the thumb. Fantasy managers will watch for any throwing ramp and practice updates that could unlock the offense’s ceiling soon after Week 1.

Love’s path is complicated by a recent season tainted by a sprained MCL opener, plus a later groin issue, but the current focus is a clean, gradual rebuild. If Love is limited early, Green Bay could lean on the ground attack with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon and target safer, quicker throws to minimize risk. The Packers’ Week 1 plan will be informed by joint practices with the Colts and Seattle, with Malik Willis slated to start Tennessee’s upcoming preseason game as a contrasting signal of how teams manage quarterback wounds and competition in August.

Malik Willis steps in for Jordan Love as Green Bay navigates a left-thumb procedure, with Love sidelined for at least a week of practice and potentially longer. Willis already proved he can win in two starts when Love was hurt last season, and now he has to run the full Packers offense while Love rests. The immediate plan emphasizes development over the next couple weeks, and the team faces a preseason slate that could influence how much starters play. Fantasy managers should watch Willis closely for rushing upside and the chemistry he can build with Reed and Wicks as the Packers try to squeeze production from a reshuffled offense.

Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks stand to benefit if Willis thrives, offering intriguing dynasty and best-ball options in deeper leagues. The Packers also have to contend with a short-term roster disruption, as several contributors deal with camp injuries, which could boost Willis’s pass attempts and timing as he practices with a thinner group. Detroit’s Week 1 opponent looms, with a season-opening clash against the Lions on the horizon, while the preseason schedule provides a venue to test Willis in live action. In this evolving scenario, market-enticing angles include Reed’s early targets, Wicks’s downfield opportunities, and how the Packers’ run game might complement a quarterback still growing into the role.

New York took a 30-10 win over Green Bay in Week 1 of the preseason, and the Jets appeared to have solved some early offensive kinks. Justin Fields moved efficiently in his lone series, completing 3-of-4 attempts and guiding a scoring drive. Adrien Martinez stepped in with a crisp 11-of-16 for 152 yards and a TD, while Brady Cook added 6-of-8 accuracy. The Jets’ RBs leaned on Donovan Edwards for 42 rushing yards on nine carries, with Braelon Allen also showing >4 yards per rush, even as Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis had limited success. On defense, the Jets’ DBs dominated, and the Packers’ aerial attack stalled even with multiple signal-callers. Penalties were costly for New York, a reminder that discipline must improve if the team is to translate preseason success into the regular season.

The Jets’ coaching staff will be left pleased with the QB trio posting a 20-of-28 mark (71.4%), and the offense showing timely scoring in exhibition play. The defense limited Jordan Love and company, while Amar Johnson’s 67-yard rushing night for Green Bay showed some life for the other side. If New York can sustain this level of efficiency and clean up discipline, fantasy managers could view the Jets as a deeper, more efficient offense than anticipated, with multiple players offering upside in larger formats as the preseason progresses.