It’s not always easy to be the guy who replaces “the guy”. It’s an axiom that rings true across multiple sports. For example, Premier League club Manchester United have toiled for a decade since the retirement of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The New York Yankees have not returned to the World Series since shortstop Derek Jeter‘s retirement. The New England Patriots have not won a playoff game since 2019 – Tom Brady‘s final season with the team.

The Green Bay Packers appear to he having their own crisis as they attempt to replace a legendary quarterback. Jordan Love took over for Aaron Rodgers this year following Rodgers‘ departure for New York – and for the first time, the Packers publicly are casting doubt as to whether Love is the right guy for them.

A 10-game timetable

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Love is facing a critical juncture in his short Green Bay career. Once a first-round pick from the franchise, Love has only been able to muster a 2-5 record this season with 11 touchdown passes to eight interceptions – tied for the second-highest total in the NFL.

“I think we’ve got 10 games left,” Gutekunst said. “These are going to be a very important 10 games.”

Gutekunst said Love has “done a lot of really good things,” especially in leading Green Bay to two wins in three games to begin the 2023 season. But the 24-year-old has the lowest completion percentage (57.7 percent) among starters with at least seven starts, while his 78.2 rating is the fifth-lowest among quarterbacks with at least five starts this year.

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Packers on four-game losing skid

Goodwill around the young Love has evaporated as Green Bay is on pace for its worst season in more than a decade. The Packers have lost each of the past four games, and Green Bay has failed to score more than 20 points in any of its past five contests.

But Gutekunst is optimistic that an offense ranking 25th in yards is on the precipice of turning things around – beginning with a home game on Sunday at Lambeau Field against the Los Angeles Rams.