The Packers’ quest to take over the NFC North lead on Saturday needed to continue without Jordan Love.

Green Bay’s star quarterback exited with a concussion in the second quarter and was officially ruled out after halftime following a crushing hit from the Bears’ Austin Booker.

With the Packers at their own 17-yard line, Love dropped back to pass on first down and was sacked by Booker, who drew a flag for roughing the passer on the snap.

Love appeared to lower his head while trying to escape the pocket, and Booker’s helmet made contact with it.

After being examined by trainers, Love walked back toward the locker room, and he was ruled out before the third quarter began.

That meant Malik Willis — the former third-round pick by the Titans in his second season as the Packers’ backup quarterback — took over for the remainder of the game, and he finished 9-of-11 for 121 yards which included a beautiful 33-yard pass to Romeo Doubs late in the third quarter.

He also had 10 carries for 44 yards on the ground.

Willis has been forced into games for the Packers previously, appearing in seven last year and starting two while collecting 550 passing yards and four total touchdowns.

Love went 8-of-13 for 77 before leaving the game.

There was no update on Love after the loss.

“I hollered at him after the game, just really quickly,” said Willis. “I mean, I didn’t get to really get into it too much with him. Just let him know I’m praying for him and hope he’s ready to go.”

The loss of Love has made things even more complicated for the Packers after Chicago’s stunning 22-16 win in overtime on Saturday night, when they erased a 10-point deficit in the final minutes of the fourth quarter before Caleb Williams and DJ Moore connected on a 46-yard touchdown pass to win the game.

But in the bigger picture, Love’s absence would be devastating for Green Bay in the stretch run of the regular season, as it’ll host the Ravens next week before closing the slate on the road against the Vikings.

Love entered Saturday night’s showdown with 3,304 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns and six interceptions for the 9-5-1 Packers, who had won four of their last five games before Saturday’s loss to their division rival.

With the win, the Bears improved to 11-4 and are now in firm control of the NFC North.

And Love isn’t the first star they have lost to injury recently.

The Packers lost star edge rusher Micah Parsons for the year last weekend due to a torn ACL, too.

While running back Josh Jacobs and receiver Christian Watson managed to play in Saturday’s loss after they were listed as questionable, right tackle Zach Tom, safety Evan Williams and tight end Josh Whyle also were sidelined by injuries.

“That’s football, right?” coach Matt LaFleur said. “And you’ve got to stay resilient. … You roll up your sleeves, you get back to work, and you continue to fight. And that’s what our guys will do.”