Love looking a 'lot more comfortable' during Packers OTAs as starter
Jordan Love is taking the starter's snaps during the Green Bay Packers' OTAs as Aaron Rodgers continues to sit out, and his teammates are seeing a notable improvement.
"You can tell he's just a lot more comfortable out there, even from communicating in the huddle to the command of the huddle to just everything," running back Aaron Jones said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.
"He's had a year under his belt, he's had time to watch and learn, so you can tell it's a little bit different from what it was before," Jones added. "He's going to continue to grow, and I'm happy to be here working with him."
Rodgers is in a standoff with the Packers, and the signal-caller reportedly told some within the organization he doesn't want to return. Green Bay reportedly offered to make him the NFL's highest-paid quarterback, but the 37-year-old is reportedly set on staying away unless general manager Brian Gutekunst is fired.
The Packers were also missing the team's top-five wide receivers as OTA practices began on Tuesday, though head coach Matt LaFleur said there's no reason for him to believe their absences are coordinated.
Even without most of his offensive weapons, Love has impressed LaFleur thus far following an uneventful rookie campaign.
"He's definitely matured over the course of the year," the coach said. "You can tell that he's put in the time this offseason, not only just lifting and running and coming in in good football shape, but also you can tell he's put in the time in his craft in trying to continue to work on his mechanics, his fundamentals that are so critical to playing the position at the highest level possible.
"So he's still got a lot to learn. I think he can tell you that, but he's going to take it one day at a time. He goes out there with purpose. I like his mindset right now."
Rodgers was reportedly upset when Green Bay drafted Love 26th overall last year, but the star passer recently said the selection isn't to blame for his issues with the team.