Rodgers may return to practice Saturday
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers appear poised to use their second and final return from injured reserve designation on quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers was eligible to practice for the first time Friday, officially six weeks after being placed on IR after his broken right collarbone Oct. 15 at Minnesota. The Packers didn’t practice Friday, but coach Mike McCarthy said there was a chance Rodgers could participate in the team’s Saturday practice.
“The plan, he’s got a workout today that we’ll obviously evaluate,” McCarthy said. “We’ll determine that tomorrow after his work today.”
Once Rodgers practices, the wheels will be in motion for him to return this season.
A team cannot practice a player on injured reserve unless they officially use their return designation. The Packers used their first return designation on right tackle Jason Spriggs, now the team’s starter after Bryan Bulaga’s season-ending torn ACL.
It would seem unlikely the Packers would burn their second return designation unless they intend for Rodgers to play.
Rodgers threw approximately 40 passes to quarterbacks coach Alex Van
Pelt during a pregame workout at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh before the Packers’ game against the Steelers on Sunday, including one that traveled roughly 50 yards. The hope was Rodgers might throw by the six-week mark after having surgery to repair his broken right clavicle, a goal he cleared by four days.
“You saw him throwing out there in Pittsburgh,” Van Pelt said. “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.”
Even if he’s healthy, the Packers could choose to keep Rodgers sidelined if they drop out of playoff contention. Rodgers’ return could hinge on the Packers winning their next two games: Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and next week at the Cleveland Browns.
Rodgers is eligible to return against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 17. With wins the next two weeks, the Packers would have a 7-6 record. The Panthers are one of the teams ahead of the Packers in contention for an NFC wild-card spot.
McCarthy said Rodgers’ return to practice could give his team a morale boost.
“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 weeks. He’s been going through the fundamental part of it. I think you also have to be in tune with the trial return mode.” Montgomery’s season over: The Packers ended running back Ty Montgomery’s season, putting him on injured reserve.
Montgomery hasn’t played since leaving the Packers’ game at Chicago last month with a rib injury, forcing him to miss the past three games. He previously had broken his ribs in the Packers’ first game against the Bears on Sept. 28.
Montgomery has been dealing with a wrist injury since before the first Bears game. It was listed on the injury report before that game, but then hadn’t appeared on the report until this week. That is the injury that led to Montgomery being placed on IR.
The Packers filled his spot by promoting receiver Michael Clark from the practice squad.
Clark has impressed teammates while toiling in obscurity, with Davon House saying Thursday the rookie has “the same talent level” as Buccaneers Pro Bowler Mike Evans.
“I actually told him earlier (Thursday) that you might get some cut-ups of him and put it on his tape,” House said, “because if he can play anything like Mike, he’s going to be really darn good in this league.”
The Packers also will be without rookie cornerback Kevin King on Sunday. King continues to struggle with a shoulder injury that kept him out of practice this week and forced him to be inactive for the Packers’ home game two weeks ago against the Baltimore Ravens.
Five players were listed as questionable for Sunday: running back Aaron Jones (MCL), outside linebacker Clay
Matthews (groin), defensive tackle Kenny Clark (ankle), outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (back) and backup guard Lucas Patrick (hand).
No penalty: Steelers rookie T.J. Watt wasn’t penalized for hitting Packers quarterback Brett Hundley’s helmet in Sunday night’s game because Hundley was considered a runner, Van Pelt said.
Watt contacted Hundley’s helmet inside the pocket while sacking him, delivering a blow to the Packers’ final drive. The Packers felt that play should have been a 15-yard penalty.
“But had he pulled up to throw the ball and took the hit to the helmet, he’d become a passer and gets the rule back in his favor. I’m not 100% sure on it,” VanPelt said. Fine time: Packers tight end Richard Rodgers was fined $24,309 for hitting Steelers safety Sean Davis’ helmet, which drew an unnecessary roughness penalty.