Uh . . . maybe the Carolina Panthers had the answer for their problem under center on the roster after all. Okay, fine, maybe not—but one of their former practice squad quarterbacks just did something pretty darn cool.
On Sunday, Josh Love of the Michigan Panthers (once a Panther, always a Panther, it seems) completed 18 of his 20 passes in his team’s 29-13 win over the Houston Gamblers. That efficient body of work—which translated into 215 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions—equates to a new USFL record for the highest completion percentage in a single game.
LOVE IT! 🙌 @Josh12Love set a @USFL record for the highest completion percentage (90.2 percent) in a single game! pic.twitter.com/uqQAfwyJfl
— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) April 16, 2023
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound passer got his first taste of pro football in 2020—signing with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent out of San Jose State University. He was, however, waived prior to the start of the regular season—on Aug. 25.
Love found his way to Carolina the next season, joining as a practice squad member on Nov. 2, 2021 following the shoulder injury to starter Sam Darnold. He was then released exactly one week later.
The 26-year-old wound up with the other Panthers (of Michigan) after the Pittsburgh Maulers—who selected Love in the 12th round of the 2022 USFL draft—released him on May 10, 2022.
