Green Bay Packers fans were left in shock and dismay when their star quarterback, Jordan Love, suffered a significant injury after being sacked by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter during Week 1 of the 2024/25 NFL season. However, what should have been a moment of concern for the team’s future took a dark turn when some fans went as far as sending death threats to Carter in the aftermath of the game.
The incident occurred during the NFL’s much-anticipated game in São Paulo, Brazil, as part of the league’s global initiative to expand the sport internationally. The Philadelphia Eagles, coming off a Super Bowl runner-up finish in 2023, narrowly defeated the Packers 34-29 at the Corinthian Arena. While the game featured plenty of excitement, the lasting memory for Packers fans was Love’s injury, which took place late in the game.
In the closing moments, with the Packers down by five points, Love, the Packers’ $220 million quarterback, went down awkwardly after being sacked by Carter and Josh Sweat. The tackle resulted in what appeared to be a serious knee injury, with fans watching in horror as Love’s knee visibly popped out of place. While Love briefly returned to the game with just six seconds left, attempting to lead a last-ditch comeback, the damage had already been done.
Injuries are an unfortunate yet routine part of the NFL, a contact sport notorious for its physicality. However, a small section of Packers fans took their frustration to unacceptable extremes, targeting Jalen Carter with death threats. Shortly after the game, Carter revealed the threats through his Instagram account, sharing screenshots of the disturbing messages he received in his direct messages (DMs). One of his posts included a caption that read, “Making a football play, wishing Jordan the best recovery!”
The DMs included at least nine abusive messages, some of which were disturbingly explicit. One message even included racial slurs, calling Carter a derogatory name. Despite the backlash, Carter seemed determined to rise above the negativity, brushing off the hateful messages and maintaining his focus on the game.
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As the fallout from the incident continues, the attention now turns to Jordan Love’s condition. The quarterback’s injury could be a major setback for the Packers, especially if it involves serious damage to his knee, such as an MCL or ACL tear, which could sideline him for the remainder of the 2024/25 season. However, there is hope that Love’s injury may only be a severe ankle sprain, which would result in a shorter recovery time.
Even if Love’s injury is less severe than initially feared, his availability for Week 2 remains doubtful. The Packers are set to host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 15, at Lambeau Field. Given the potential severity of the injury, the team may choose to err on the side of caution, leaving Love on the sidelines for at least this game.
While Packers fans hold their breath awaiting news on their star quarterback’s status, the actions of those who chose to target Jalen Carter with death threats serve as a sobering reminder of the darker side of sports fandom.
It remains to be seen how the situation will be handled by both the NFL and the Packers organization, but one thing is clear—Carter’s focus remains on the game, and Jordan Love’s recovery will be the top priority for Green Bay.
