Why isn't Jordan Love playing against the Broncos in the preseason game today?

It’s a steamy Friday in Denver, and the Packers and Broncos are in the middle of a joint practice when tempers suddenly flare. To the onlookers, it seems like a normal enough play—until it isn’t. One moment, Jordan Love is poised to throw, and the next, there’s a flurry of jerseys and helmets as a scuffle breaks out. At first glance, it looks like Denver’s Nik Bonitto might’ve taken a cheap shot at Green Bay’s new starting quarterback. But, as the saying goes, things aren’t always what they seem.

“I was going to throw, and I think Zach Tom got pushed and hit my shoulder,” Love explained later, his voice calm despite the chaos that had unfolded moments earlier. Turns out, it wasn’t Bonitto swinging at Love after all, but rather his own lineman getting bumped and unintentionally making contact with the QB. Love didn’t hold a grudge, chalking it up to “friendly fire.”

It’s easy to see how the misunderstanding happened. Quarterbacks are the prized possessions on any football field, and everyone—from coaches to players—wants to keep them upright and unharmed. So when Love’s arm was hit, even by one of his own, it set off alarm bells. The kind that lead to shoving matches and a few choice words exchanged. “I think a lot of guys didn’t really see it and know what happened,” Love said. “We make it a big point to stay away from the quarterback.”

So there you have it. The Packers weren’t starting a fight; they were just protecting their guy. It’s a rule as old as the game itself: you don’t touch the quarterback in practice, especially not your own. And when it looked like the Broncos might have violated that sacred rule, well, the Packers weren’t about to let it slide without a response, even if it was just a misunderstanding.

But as the dust settled and the adrenaline wore off, everyone seemed to recognize that it was much ado about nothing. The practice resumed, and the skirmish quickly became yesterday’s news. Except, of course, for one thing—Love won’t be playing in Sunday’s preseason game against these same Broncos. Not because of any lingering effects from the incident, but because, as coach Matt LaFleur decided, it’s just not worth the risk.

It’s the preseason, after all, a time when coaches weigh every decision carefully, balancing the need to prepare for the regular season with the equally important task of avoiding unnecessary injuries. For Love, who’s stepping into Aaron Rodgers’ shoes this season, the last thing the Packers need is a banged-up quarterback before Week 1.

So while the fans might be disappointed not to see Love in action this Sunday, it’s all part of the plan. After all, a misunderstanding at practice is one thing. A mistake in managing your quarterback’s health? That’s a whole different ball game.