The Green Bay Packers wasted a golden opportunity to start their season on a winning note with Jordan Love running their offense.

Now they’re going to try to bounce back without their franchise quarterback, at least for a little while.

Love was helped off the field in the closing seconds of the Packers’ 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday in Brazil. A source said Love had injured his medial collateral ligament — but not his ACL — and should return this season.

The team hasn’t announced the severity of Love’s injury and any timetable for his return wasn’t specified. ESPN said Love could miss three to four weeks and NFL Network estimated three to six weeks.

“Obviously you don’t want to see the leader of your team get hurt,” Packers running back Josh Jacobs said after the game.

Love, 25, was playing his first regular-season game since signing a four-year, $220 million contract extension this summer. The Packers entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations largely because of the emergence of Love, who led the NFL’s youngest team to a surprising playoff berth last season as a first-year starter.

So, the Packers can breathe a sign of relief that Love will be back this year. But for now, they’re facing a serious issue at quarterback.

Malik Willis, a 2022 third-round draft pick out of Liberty, is the only other quarterback on the Packers’ 53-man roster. He generally has been considered a much more polished runner than passer. Willis has made three career starts – all in his rookie year – and didn’t throw for 100 yards in any of them.

Also, Willis just joined the Packers less than two weeks ago when they acquired him from the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 seventh-round pick. So he might not have developed much of a rhythm with this offense.

49ers’ top RB mccaffrey questionable >> All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey is listed as questionable for the 49ers’ season opener against the Jets with a sore calf and Achilles.

McCaffrey was hurt early in training camp and missed four weeks of practice before returning to the field this week. He was limited all week in practice and is officially questionable for Monday night’s game despite saying Friday he had no doubt he would play.

The 49ers also will have All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams and star receiver Brandon Aiyuk available for the opener after they missed all of training camp practices during contract disputes.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said that Aiyuk could be eased back in and not get his usual full load. That’s more difficult with a left tackle so Shanahan is hopeful Williams can play the entire game.

washington QB Mariota on IR >> The Commanders put Marcus Mariota on injured reserve, ensuring the veteran quarterback will miss at least the first four games of the season.

Coach Dan Quinn said Mariota strained a pectoral muscle. The 30-year-old Mariota missed practice this week and was listed with a chest injury.

Journeyman Jeff Driskel is expected to back up Jayden Daniels in the season opener at Tampa Bay.

holdout Reddick won’t play in Jets’ opener >> Linebacker Haason Reddick won’t play in the Jets’ season-opening game while he remains in a contract dispute with the team.

Coach Robert Saleh acknowledged Saturday “that would be fair” to rule out Reddick, who has not been at the team’s facility since the Jets’ trade for him from Philadelphia became official on April 1.

The two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher, seeking a contract extension, has requested a trade from New York — something GM Joe Douglas has said the team won’t honor.