Matt LaFleur addresses the likelihood of Jordan Love playing in preseason

Packers quarterback Jordan Love is the newly minted highest-paid player in the NFL. But it’s still unclear whether he’ll see action in any preseason game.

Even Packers coach Matt LaFleur isn’t sure how he’ll use Love in August. The quarterback only has one full year of experience as a starter. LaFleur needs to balance that against risking the face of the franchise getting injured during a meaningless game.

LaFleur discussed the topic Tuesday from Packers training camp. He couldn’t give a direct yes or no.

“Time will tell,” the Packers coach said at his media availability. “I would anticipate him … What I told our coaches — haven’t talked to the team about this yet — but what I told our coaches is right now you’ve got to anticipate all our guys playing at some point. Just when is that point?

“A lot of it is going to kind of be where we’re at,” LaFleur said. “There’s going to be a little bit of feel to that. We’re less than two weeks from our first preseason game, so we’ll know sooner rather than later.”

The Packers kick off their preseason on Aug. 10 at the Cleveland Browns. On Aug. 18, they’ll play a Sunday night game in Denver against the Broncos. They’ll finish preseason on Aug. 24, with a home game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Love didn’t participate in the first few days of Packers camp as his representatives finished the last details of his contract. Then last Friday, the Packers agreed to pay Love $55 million a year with a $75 million signing bonus. The contract is for four years. Technically, his per-year average salary ties Joe Burrow of the Bengals. The Jaguars also agreed to pay Trevor Lawrence $55 million a year, but it doesn’t kick in until 2025.

The deal was so good that even Aaron Rodgers took time out to congratulate Love. Of course, Love used to be Rodgers’ backup. When Green Bay selected Love in the first round of the 2020 draft, it proved to be the genesis of Rodgers’ eventual decision to leave the Packers. For what it’s worth, Love now makes about $5 million per year than the guy he replaced.

Love returned to Packers practice on Saturday. And by Tuesday, LaFleur was cool with the Packers investing so much money into their young QB.

“We know what he’s capable of doing,” the Packers coach told Sports Illustrated. “And he’s capable of doing anything.”

But you may have to wait until September to see Love in a game.