Jordan Love Injury Report: Ex-NFL Head Doctor Rules Out “Dirty Play” After Scary Concussion Against Bears

Jordan Love left Chicago in the concussion protocol, and the Green Bay Packers left Soldier Field with one of the most deflating losses of Matt LaFleur’s tenure. What began as a gritty division battle turned into a night defined by a frightening injury and a Chicago Bears comeback that flipped the NFC North script.

The Packers quarterback exited Saturday’s 22–16 overtime loss after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bears defensive end Austin Booker in the second quarter. The contact drew Booker’s second roughing-the-passer penalty of the half, while Love was quickly removed. LaFleur offered no update after the game.

The loss and the cascading mistakes the Packers committed in the game that led to it, however, were secondary to the concern surrounding Love. While emotions ran hot in the locker room, left guard Aaron Banks openly questioned why the hit didn’t warrant harsher discipline.

An ex-NFL head team doctor, however, pushed back on the idea of malicious intent. “I don’t think it was a dirty play,” Dr. David J. Chao explained in a post on X.

“Jordan Love dips his head as he comes in. When you’re coming in hard, it’s hard. You can’t judge concussions by video. It was forceful contact to the head, which is a penalty, but not dirty,” added the doctor, who felt that Love’s visible reaction — holding his helmet, shaking his head, his eyes — could be interpreted as classic concussion signs. That’s why the protocol was necessary regardless of intent.

LaFleur echoed that sentiment when asked directly about Booker’s hit. “That’s football,” he said. “Stuff happens.”

For Love, this concussion is the first reported one of his NFL career. He has dealt with injuries before — a left shoulder scare earlier this season, thumb surgery late in training camp, and various issues last year. But head injuries always carry a different level of uncertainty.

The Packers likely won’t know until later in the week whether Love will be available for their upcoming matchups. They have a season-ending trip to Minnesota, while up next it is the Ravens. LaFleur was already talking that game, acknowledging the difficulty of regrouping after a loss that slipped away late.

“We knew they were a team that was going to fight to the end,” LaFleur said. “It was a playoff-type atmosphere… And we just gotta get it together and get ready for a tough Baltimore team.”

The Regrouping will involve settling the offense, ironing out the mistakes the Packers committed against the Bears.

After Love exited the game against the Bears, Backup QB Malik Willis did steady things initially. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 121 yards and threw a touchdown to Romeo Doubs that pushed Green Bay ahead by 10 in the second half. But the margin proved fragile.

Willis lost a fumble on a botched snap on the Packers’ first possession of overtime. The pivotal error set the stage for the Bears’ walk-off score.

Green Bay still appeared poised to close it out in regulation. Rookie Warren Brinson sacked Caleb Williams on third-and-20 with just over three minutes left. But a facemask penalty extended the drive.

The Bears capitalized with a field goal to make it 16-9. Moments later, Doubs fumbled an onside kick recovery attempt. That play could have ended the game outright.

“Somebody gotta be responsible, and I’m willing to take on 1000% of it,” Doubs said, acknowledging the mistake while dealing with a wrist injury.

The unraveling continued in the dying moments of the game. Miscommunication in the secondary allowed Williams to find Jahdae Walker for a game-tying touchdown with 24 seconds remaining.

After Willis’ overtime fumble, Williams ended it with a 46-yard strike to D.J. Moore, beating single coverage after a Packers blitz.

At 9-5-1, Green Bay lost its chance to sweep the Bears and now faces mounting pressure with two games left. Whether Love is under center or not, the loss in Chicago, and the hit that changed everything, will linger well beyond the final score.