Injured Packers QB Rodgers set to hit the practice field
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — Aaron Rodgers’ return is a go.
The Green Bay Packers’ two-time MVP quarterback, who was placed on injured reserve after breaking his right collarbone Oct. 15 against Minnesota, is on track to practise today, coach Mike McCarthy said.
“He’s got a workout today that we’ll obviously evaluate,” McCarthy said Friday. “We’re looking tomorrow to potentially practise him in a trial return. That’s the outlook.”
Rodgers had surgery on Oct. 19 and was placed on injured reserve the following day. NFL rules allow teams to bring back two players off injured reserve. Those players must be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks; Friday marked six weeks for Rodgers.
Rodgers threw several passes of at least 50 yards before Sunday night’s loss to Pittsburgh.
“You saw him throwing out there in Pittsburgh,” quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt said Thursday. “He’s doing well. He’s getting healthy and he’s following right along in rehab. He’s probably ahead of the curve a little bit, but there’s really not anything to talk about until there’s something to talk about.”
Now there is something to talk about. If the Packers (5-6) can stay in the playoff race by beating Tampa Bay (4-7) on Sunday and Cleveland (0-11) next weekend, Rodgers could return for the Dec. 17 game at Carolina.
Rodgers’ potential return to practice should provide a lift for a team that lost the Minnesota game and four of the five starts by Brett Hundley.
“Absolutely, I think it’s a big deal when you see your leader out there,” McCarthy said. “The guys have been able to watch him work here the last couple [of] weeks.”
Among those players who saw Rodgers’ workouts was outside linebacker Clay Matthews, who rehabbed with Rodgers last week while nursing a groin injury.
“This past week, being a part of that rehab group, to watch Aaron, what he’s been doing in there, I think we probably should have kept him off IR,” Matthews said Wednesday. “The way he’s coming along, some of the balls he’s throwing, accuracy-wise, everything a quarterback has to do is pretty remarkable.”
Even if Rodgers returns to the lineup, the Packers face a challenging final three games with contests against the Panthers (8-3), Vikings (9-2) and Detroit Lions (6-5).
“If we can go out and win these two in a row and get A-Rod back, things are going to turn around,” safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix said. ALAMEDA, California — Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.
Cooper suffered a concussion and sprained left ankle after being hit by Denver safety Darian Stewart in the first half of last week’s 21-14 win over the Broncos. Cooper had to be helped off the field and he limped out of the Raiders’ locker-room after the game.