GREEN BAY, Wis. – Heading into a huge matchup against the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love didn’t come out for the start of practice Wednesday.

Love was part of a large group of newbies working out on exercise equipment while the rest of the team warmed up inside the Don Hutson Center. When the players headed to practice, Love and the injured starters stayed inside to work with a trainer.

Malik Willis and Sean Clifford threw passes during individual drills while reporters were present.

Love missed most of the second half of Sunday’s win at Jacksonville with a groin injury suffered in the opening series.

Given the magnitude of the game — a chance to take first place in the NFC North — there’s no doubt Love and the Packers (6-2) hope to play the first-place Lions (6-1). On the other hand, with next week’s bye, there is an opportunity for Love to be at full strength — or closer to full strength — for the stretch race, which begins Nov. 17 at the rival of the Chicago Bears.

“Yeah, if he can go, he’ll go,” coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. “We’ll see where he is by the end of the week. But if we think he can’t protect himself, we certainly won’t put him in that position.

Love isn’t the only injured player to watch this week. Linebacker Quay Walker (concussion) did not play against Jacksonville, safety Evan Williams (hamstring) missed most of the game and cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) was injured on the final defensive snap .

Walker practiced, but Alexander and Williams were among a contingent of starters who did not.

After a short completion on the third play of the third quarter in Jacksonville, Love collided with Travon Walker. It didn’t seem like much contact, but Love was shaken and tried to move to the sideline.

At that moment, it was clear that Love could no longer protect itself.

“I just thought it was a pretty gutsy performance,” coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. “He was definitely suffering, his ability to move, to really drive the football. I just thought it was a tough, realistic performance.

The Packers won with Malik Willis. Not much was asked of Willis, but he delivered when necessary. He was 3 of 4 passing for 5 yards before his huge 51-yard strike to Jayden Reed set up the game-winning score. He also had a 20-yard run to precede Josh Jacobs’ 38-yard touchdown run.

After winning starts against the Colts and Titans, then winning in relief against the Jaguars, the Packers have confidence in Willis should he be put to work.

“The moment is not too big for him,” LaFleur said. “I don’t think that’s the case for everyone. It looks like his heart rate stays pretty constant. He obviously made some big plays in that game, and I also think the confidence that the team has in him and his ability to lead us, I think it’s pretty evident when you watch us play.

Playing without their indomitable defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson, who is out with a broken leg, the Lions managed just one sack last week in a 52-14 loss to the Titans. Hutchinson has missed the last two games, but still ranks third in the NFL in sacks and first in quarterback hits. No one else has more than 2.5 sacks.

The lack of pressure from the Lions could give the Packers confidence they can protect Love.

“There are other ways to create pressure and would you like a few more?” Yes, we would like a little more,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday. “I wouldn’t say we’re in panic mode.”

“It doesn’t matter what your record is,” he added. “It’s about how do you cover up some of your shortcomings? That’s the name of the game. We’re talking about Hutch, we’re not going to be able to replace Hutch, but we can do other things. You put a heavier load on your backend, that’s what you need to do, and we did it, and they rose to the challenge. Was it perfect? No, but we are getting results, which is huge.

The Lions and Packers are tied for second in the NFL with 10 interceptions and Detroit is behind Green Bay with 15 giveaways.

Against the Jaguars, Love threw his league-worst ninth interception and had his streak of games with more than two touchdown passes snapped at nine.

LaFleur said the injury wasn’t the problem in the interception.

“I thought the guy made a really good play with the ball,” LaFleur said of rookie cornerback Jarrian James. “There are definitely some things we could have done a little better. Especially when people are crouching on routes, a lot of times I always put that down to us as coaches too, whether we can give them a better game so people don’t do that.

“I thought Jones did a good job of sitting outside of leverage and just driving the outlet. It’s a game we’ve played a lot, so I’m sure he was able to anticipate it, and that’s how you make plays. So that’s thanks to him, he made a good play. I just told Jordan, if you sense someone driving it, make sure you put that ball where only our guy can catch it. But he did a good job of slashing that route.

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