Packers' Jordan Love out against Colts as he recovers from knee injury

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jordan Love won’t play for Green Bay in Sunday’s home game against the Indianapolis Colts as the quarterback continues to recover from a knee injury he sustained in the team's season opener.

Love is inactive, marking the first time he has missed a game because of an injury since taking over as the starting QB last year. Love hadn’t practiced all week after hurting his left medial collateral ligament in the final series of the Packers’ 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 6 in Brazil.

Malik Willis will start in Love’s place, less than three weeks after joining the Packers. In a trade that was announced Aug. 27, Green Bay acquired Willis from the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 seventh-round pick.

Willis, a 2022 third-round pick from Liberty, made his only three previous starts during his rookie season. Tennessee went 1-2 in those games, and Willis didn’t throw for as many as 100 yards in any of them.

Sean Clifford will back up Willis. The Packers activated Clifford from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.

Willis will face a Colts secondary that is missing safety Julian Blackmon and cornerback JuJu Brents. Blackmon is unavailable because of a shoulder injury. Brents went on injured reserve this week after hurting his knee in a 29-27 loss to the Houston Texans.

The Colts also won't have wide receiver Josh Downs available for a second straight game because of an ankle injury. Downs had 68 catches for 771 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is available. Buckner had been listed as questionable because of a back issue.

The Packers also announced Sunday that wide receiver Jayden Reed (shin/calf) and rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) were available. Both had been listed as questionable on the injury report the Packers released Friday.

Reed had four catches for 138 yards against the Eagles and scored on a 70-yard reception and a 33-yard run. He also had a 38-yard touchdown catch nullified by offsetting penalties. Reed was the fifth player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to score touchdowns on a catch of at least 70 yards and a run of at least 30 yards in the same game.

This will be the NFL debut for Lloyd, a rookie third-round pick from Southern California. Lloyd didn’t play against the Eagles because of a hamstring problem.

Joining Love on the Packers' inactive list are safety Kitan Oladapo, defensive lineman Brenton Cox Jr., offensive tackles Andre Dillard and Travis Glover and defensive lineman Colby Wooden.

The Colts' inactive players are Blackmon, Downs, defensive end Genard Avery, guard Tanor Bortolini, quarterback Sam Ehlinger, offensive tackle Blake Freeland and tight end Will Mallory.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) plays against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) in helped off the field after getting hurt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)

Packers' Jordan Love out against Colts as he recovers from knee injury

Packers' Jordan Love out against Colts as he recovers from knee injury

ROME (AP) — Roma fired coach Daniele De Rossi on Wednesday in a move that was surprising despite the Giallorossi going winless in their opening four Italian league matches.

De Rossi, a former Roma captain, was hired in January to replace the fired Jose Mourinho and impressed so much during the second half of last season that he was given a contract extension in June through 2026-27.

“The club’s decision is made in the best interests of the team, to get back on the desired path as soon as possible at a time when the season is still in its early stages,” Roma said. “A heartfelt thank you to Daniele, who will always be at home at the Giallorossi club, for the work done in recent months with passion and dedication.”

Roma added that “communication regarding the team’s technical guidance will follow.”

Roma hosts Serie A leader Udinese on Sunday.

Ivan Jurić, who formerly coached Genoa, Hellas Verona and Torino, was close to formalizing a deal to replace De Rossi, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported. Jurić coached Torino the last three seasons, leading the club to 10th-place finishes in his first two campaigns and ninth place last season.

It's the first coaching change in Serie A this season.

After opening with a scoreless draw at Cagliari, Roma was beaten 2-1 at home by Empoli. Draws at Juventus (0-0) and Genoa (1-1) followed — leaving Roma with only three points and in 16th place.

De Rossi had transformed Roma into a better attacking unit than Mourinho’s defensive teams but this season has produced only two goals.

Next week, Roma opens its Europa League campaign against Athletic Bilbao at the Olimpico.

Romelu Lukaku’s loan spell at Roma ended after last season but talented striker Paulo Dybala stayed with the club after considering a move to Saudi Arabia.

Roma’s American owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin have often made surprising decisions.

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FILE - Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi calls out to his players during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

FILE - Roma manager Daniele De Rossi speaks to his team during a Serie A soccer match against Atalanta at Gewiss Stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP, File)

FILE - Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi waits for the start of the Europa League second leg semi-final soccer match between Leverkusen and Roma at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)