Packers QB Rodgers slated to be out Sunday
GREEN BAY, WIS. >> Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol and will miss Sunday’s game at Kansas City.
Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Wednesday that Rodgers was in the protocol, but would not say if Rodgers had tested positive nor if the reigning NFL MVP has been vaccinated.
“I’m not going to get into any of our coaches’ or players’ vaccination status,” LaFleur said.
LaFleur also didn’t speculate on how long Rodgers might be out.
Rodgers is the latest Packers player to deal with the coronavirus. Wide receivers Davante Adams, a 2020 All-Pro, and Allen Lazard missed last week’s victory at Arizona because of COVID-19 protocols.
Green Bay’s backup quarterback is 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love, who has thrown seven passes in his short career.
The third-stringer, Kurt Benkert, is on the practice squad but was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on Tuesday. That leaves Love as the lone available quarterback on Green Bay’s roster, at least for now.
Love’s lone regular-season game appearances came when he played the fourth quarter of a 38-3 seasonopening loss to New Orleans, and took three kneel-downs at the end of a 35-17 victory over Detroit. LaFleur said Love has been working primarily with the scout team since the start of the season.
“I said (to the team), ‘It’s a great challenge. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us and we all have to prepare to the best of our ability to go down there and get a win,’ “LaFleur said. “And that’s the mindset. They’re not going to postpone or
cancel the game. We have a game to play and it’s a nextman up mentality and that’s how we’ve operated for everybody. I think our guys will rally around Jordan. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him and what a great opportunity for him to showcase what he can do.”
LaFleur said he had “briefly” spoken with Rodgers
since the news came out. He also talked with Love to let the second-year pro know to expect to start Sunday’s game.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry tested positive last week and also missed the Cardinals game. LaFleur said he’s hopeful that Barry and Adams will both be back at practice Thursday.
Vaccinated players who test positive are allowed to return after they have two negative tests that are taken at least 24 hours apart. Unvaccinated players who test positive are isolated for at least 10 days.
Rodgers was asked at an Aug. 26 media session whether he had been vaccinated.
“Yeah, I’ve been immunized,” Rodgers replied. “You know, there’s a lot of conversation around it, around the league, and a lot of guys who have made statements and not made statements, owners who have made statements. There’s guys on the team that haven’t been vaccinated. I think it’s a personal decision. I’m not going to judge those guys. There are guys that’ve been vaccinated that have contracted COVID. It’s an interesting issue that I think we’re going to see played out the entire season.”
Green Bay (7-1) has won seven straight games and owns a 3 ½-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings (3-4) in the NFC Central, giving the Packers a nice cushion as they deal with the reigning MVP’s absence. SAINTS’ THOMAS OUT FOR
SEASON AFTER SETBACK >> The New Orleans Saints won’t get record-setting wide receiver Michael Thomas back at all this season, another blow to an offense that just lost starting quarterback Jameis Winston to a major knee injury.
Complications related to ankle surgery last summer will keep Thomas out for the year, the receiver said in a lengthy social media post.
Saints coach Sean Payton said Thomas will need an additional procedure, but he also said the setback had nothing to do with the receiver’s approach to his recovery and credited Thomas’ work ethic.