LaFleur: Willis aborted 3rd-and-long pass because OL 'threw up' on ball

Malik Willis' first start with the Green Bay Packers featured his first career touchdown pass, a strong performance, a win ... and a bizarre pre-snap scenario.

The Packers had a third-and-10 situation at their own 47-yard line midway through Sunday's second quarter versus the Indianapolis Colts, but Willis didn't attempt a pass on the play. Instead, he carried the ball for a short gain that ended the team's offensive drive.

Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur said postgame that he questioned Willis' decision not to throw the ball. The quarterback explained that the ball was dirty because center Josh Myers vomited on it.

"I asked Malik why he didn't throw it on that third down, and he told me Josh threw up on the ball," LaFleur said.

Failing to covert that third down ultimately didn't make a big difference for Willis, who completed 12 of 14 pass attempts for 122 yards and one touchdown in a 16-10 Week 2 victory. He also recorded 41 rushing yards and didn't turn the ball over.

Willis - a third-round pick in 2022 - joined Green Bay in an August trade following a disappointing stint with the Tennessee Titans. He started against the Colts in place of Jordan Love, who's dealing with a knee injury.