Malik Willis acknowledges he wasn’t ready the last time he had to start an NFL game. The Green Bay Packers quarterback knew he’d be more prepared the next time an opportunity arose.

With plenty of help from his new teammates, Willis went out and proved it Sunday by helping the Packers beat the Indianapolis Colts 16-10 on Sunday in Green Bay.

Acquired on Aug. 27 in a trade with the Tennessee Titans, Willis threw his first career touchdown pass to help the Packers withstand the absence of the injured Jordan Love.

“I don’t think you guys can appreciate or even comprehend the task that Malik Willis (faced),” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “This guy got here three weeks ago.”

Love didn’t play after injuring his left medial collateral ligament during the final series of a 34-29 season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 6 in Brazil. It was the first game Love missed since taking over as Green Bay’s starting quarterback last year.

The Packers (1-1) relied on an all-around effort to win without Love. Josh Jacobs ran for 151 yards on 32 carries to lead Green Bay’s 261-yard rushing attack. The defense hounded Anthony Richardson into three interceptions.

But the Packers might not have won without Willis’ steadiness.

Willis had made three previous starts — all in 2022 — and hadn’t thrown for 100 yards in any of them. Tennessee dealt Willis for a seventh-round pick after he couldn’t beat out Mason Rudolph for the right to back up Titans starter Will Levis.

“I’m just grateful for God giving me another opportunity somewhere different, a clean slate, just giving me the opportunity to be around guys who’ve helped me get going in this past three weeks as far as just learning as much as I can,” Willis said.

Willis played efficiently and went 12 of 14 for 122 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks. Brayden Narveson went 3 of 4 on field-goal attempts to account for Green Bay’s other points.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 103 yards on 12 carries but didn’t touch the ball in the fourth quarter. Richardson was 17 of 34 for 204 yards with one touchdown to go with his three interceptions. He also ran for 37 yards on four carries.