Matt LaFleur has entered his trolling era

Matt LaFleur refuses to publicly rule out quarterback Jordan Love for Week 2. One way or another, this represents a change for the Packers' head coach.

Give Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur credit. He has fully committed to the bit.

Though every report about the MCL sprain Jordan Love suffered in Brazil last Friday suggests he will miss multiple weeks, LaFleur has refused to admit that the quarterback won't suit up this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

The charade began Monday. When asked which signal-caller would start in Week 2, LaFleur said Malik Willis would get the nod "if" Love didn't receive medical clearance. Naturally, the coach refused to discuss the likelihood of Love recovering in time for the game, opting only to say the team wouldn't shut the door on the possibility.

"I couldn't give you a percentage," LaFleur said of Love's chances to play this week. "If he gets cleared, we'll give him every opportunity, like we always will."

Nothing about LaFleur's words strongly suggests Love plans to take the field this weekend. The entire statement comes after the qualifier: "If he gets cleared." Put differently, the whole thing sounds like standard-issue coach speak.

Still, 48 hours later, LaFleur would have to give up the ghost and finally admit the door had closed on Love playing so soon after a significant injury, right?

"I'd say it's pretty open," LaFleur said Wednesday.

"He's doing a nice job. He's spending a lot of time in the training room. Our guys have done a great job with him, 'Flea' and Nate and all our athletic trainers, our strength staff. But at the same time, like I told you guys, he's got to be cleared. We got to feel like he can protect himself, and he's got to be confident enough to go out there and do that. Until that happens, we're not even going to think about that equation."

If that last part seems like LaFleur winking at the audience, consider that he also claimed that Love wouldn't need to practice in order to play in the game. The coach remains fully committed to the bit.

LaFleur has apparently gotten others to play along too.