Preston Smith (91) Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Preston Smith reveals how Packers must help Jordan Love

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/20/23

Green Bay Packers pass-rusher Preston Smith believes the defense must help quarterback Jordan Love make a smooth transition as the team's starter now that Aaron Rodgers is with the New York Jets.

"With so much talent on our defense, we know we have to step it up a lot, and knowing we have a young quarterback, we have to be tremendous this year," Smith explained during an NFL Network appearance, per Kevin Patra of the league's website. "We have to make sure we step up and do our part to help (Love) to get comfortable out there on the field. Help him get the ball in great situations and get stops to let him get comfortable back there and make sure we put him in great situations. It's not just about him putting us in great situations, but helping us be comfortable to put him in great situations with the ball in great field position and getting stops. So he can go down the field and get us touchdowns and do his thing and gain his confidence throughout the season."

Love has received public votes of confidence from teammates such as running back Aaron Jones following Green Bay's anticipated trade of Rodgers to the Jets that cemented the 24-year-old atop the depth chart ahead of training camp. Just last week, cornerback Jaire Alexander named Love the best quarterback in the NFL:

Jaire Alexander interrupts this press conference with a message about — and a message for — Jordan Love. pic.twitter.com/4VLqv4BiKk
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) June 14, 2023

Love recently made it known he feels "the sky’s the limit" for what will be a new-look Green Bay offense. Smith insisted the 2020 first-round draft pick has shown that he's ready to replace Rodgers when Green Bay opens the regular season at the rival Chicago Bears on Sept. 10.

"I believe he has a lot of potential, athletic ability, throwing ability and, overall, he has a lot of great quarterback attributes," Smith added about Love. "I feel like he'll be great. You just have to let him get in there and get comfortable and get the floor...I've seen him do a lot of things in practice where I was like, 'Aye, that kid is almost ready' in the past. I feel like, now, the Packers believe in him, the team believes in him, a lot of guys believe in him. We believe he's ready to lead this team on offense."

Such words are nice but don't eliminate the fact that Love remains an unproven commodity who has attempted just 83 career regular-season passes. While Smith sounds ready for Green Bay's defense to carry the club, the Packers will likely miss the playoffs for a second straight season if Love disappoints.

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