Packers’ Willis set to start against former team with Love’s status against Titans unknown

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Brian Callahan has seen winless starts end in NFL victories, so the first-year Tennessee coach reminded his Titans that the season is long enough to reward those who quickly correct mistakes.

They better respond to avoid the franchise’s worst start to a season since the top-six lost in 2009.

Callahan has helped Cincinnati post winning records in each of the last two seasons after losing the first two games. Houston won the AFC South last season, rebounding from an 0-2 start. The Titans see their stingy defense and early leads as evidence they could easily be undefeated. Untimely mistakes, including second-year quarterback Will Levis turning the ball over too much, are the reason they were winless against Green Bay on Sunday.

“We have a lot of guys that have played a lot of football,” Titans safety Amani Hooker said of Callahan’s message. “So we’re able to understand what it’s going to take to win.”

What the Titans don’t know is whether they’ll play Jordan Love or recent teammate Malik Willis at quarterback. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur, who spent the 2018 season as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator under Mike Vrabel, said Love’s status will be decided Sunday when the Packers (1-1) turn in their inactive list.

The Packers posted a 16-10 win over Indianapolis, giving Willis his first start with a team he joined in late August. Love is testing a brace to protect the left medial collateral ligament he injured in the Packers’ season-opening loss. He said the brace affects his mobility, which is a big part of his game.

“You’d love to be able to sit in the pocket and be a pocket passer, but that’s just not realistic,” Love said. “There’s things that happen in the pocket where you have to get out of there, avoid pressure, and sometimes you have to move the sticks with your legs.”

The Titans have lost their first two games by the exact score of 24-17, most recently to the Jets. Two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said it doesn’t matter who Green Bay starts at quarterback, as Tennessee is preparing to play Love and Willis.

“We just have to prepare to win,” Simmons said.

Force against force

The Packers lead the NFL with 21 “explosive plays” of at least 12 rushing yards or 16 passing yards or more. It won’t be as easy against the Titans, who have allowed a league-low 413 total yards and an average of 114 passing yards. It’s not as easy to prepare for the Titans under new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who has just two games under his belt.

“He’s an experienced player in this league, and when you add in some really good players, you have a chance to be a really good defense,” LaFleur said. “And they do all the little things the right way, in terms of the effort and the physicality that they play with.”

Green Bay leads the league with an average of 212 rushing yards after using that run-oriented approach last week for 261 rushing yards.

Tennessee Reunion

The Packers have several Tennessee ties in addition to Willis and LaFleur. Green Bay called up rookie kicker Brayden Narveson after he went 6-of-7 in the preseason with a long 59-yard field goal. Narveson went 6-of-8 for the Packers, though he missed a kick in each of the first two games.

As for Willis, he has no hard feelings toward the Titans, who traded him once in favor of Mason Rudolph as Levis’ backup. Willis started three games as a rookie for the Titans after they traded up in the third round to draft him from Liberty in 2022.

“They shot me,” Willis said.

Jacobs’ heavy workload

Josh Jacobs had 48 carries, which tied him with San Francisco’s Jordan Mason for the NFL lead. Jacobs had 32 against the Colts, one shy of his career high. But he’s the only Packers player with more than nine carries so far, even though Green Bay has managed to combine the rushing efforts of receivers Jayden Reed and Bo Melton.

The Packers have AJ Dillon and rookie MarShawn Lloyd on injured reserve, forcing them to rely more on Jacobs. Dillon is out for the entire season with a neck issue, while Lloyd will miss at least Green Bay’s next four games with an ankle injury.

Beware of reversals

The Packers have five interceptions and six total interceptions this season, leading the NFL in both categories. The Titans have already committed five turnovers, which is tied for the most of any NFL team, along with the Denver Broncos. All of those turnovers have been committed by Levis, which the Packers have noticed.

“We’re just hoping he gives us a little more this week,” Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon said.