Packers’ Rodgers might not practice, but will be play?
Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer isn’t buying it.
The Green Bay Packers can say all they want that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is day to day with a knee injury. The two-time NFL MVP will be given the whole week to get ready for Sunday’s game against Minnesota, Coach Mike McCarthy said.
“Yeah, well, you know he walks on water, so I’m sure he’s going to play,” Zimmer said Wednesday in a conference call.
Green Bay returned to the practice field on Wednesday, though Rodgers did not participate and stayed at Lambeau Field to rehab. Asked at his locker if it was accurate to say his injury was a sprained knee, Rodgers said, “Sure ... say sprained knee.”
If Rodgers can’t go, the Packers would turn to backup DeShone Kizer, who accounted for two turnovers after coming in when Rodgers got hurt in the second quarter last week against the Bears.
So it’s understandable why Zimmer and the Vikings think Rodgers will play. After all, Rodgers returned from injury on Sunday after being taken to the locker room on the front seat of a cart.
Rodgers walked back out after halftime, took over on the first series of the second half and threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to rally the Packers from 20 points down to a 24-23 victory. He said after the game that while he had to undergo more tests, he planned on playing against Minnesota.
Rehabbing on Wednesday was not a setback for Rodgers, McCarthy said.
“We’ll give him the whole week to get ready. So we’ll take it day by day and learn as we go,” McCarthy said.
Rodgers said he was feeling progressively better over the last couple days, though still sore. The 14year veteran said he does not need to practice to play.
Rodgers has played before with an injured left knee. He tore the ACL in his knee in high school, and played with the injury for four years before having surgery while in college at Cal.
“So I know what it feels like to play with something like this, and hopefully I’ll be at the point where I can (play) on Sunday,” Rodgers said.
He described how he was cleared to play by the team doctor at halftime against the Bears so long as he could “deal with the pain.” There were a couple throws in which Rodgers said he got a “jolt” of pain after putting weight on his left leg.
“It’s super painful, and you’ve just got to suck it up and play through it,” Rodgers said.
Jets owner: Darnold can take a punch
Christopher Johnson was in an elevator at Ford Field in Detroit when his New York Jets took the field with Sam Darnold.
The team’s acting chairman and CEO then heard the roar from Lions fans and immediately knew something had gone wrong for his rookie quarterback in the season opener Monday night.
Darnold threw an interception on his first pass that was returned for a touchdown.
“I looked through the glass wall of the elevator, and I saw a replay of the pick,” Johnson recalled Wednesday in his first formal chat with reporters since last season ended. “My heart sank, like every Jets fan’s heart sank at that point.”
Johnson, running the team while brother Woody is serving as the U.S. ambassador to the U.K., also added that his “heart stopped” but did not get down on the 21-year-old Darnold. He also knew the youngster would bounce right back.
“One of the things we’ve seen from Sam in college, in the springtime and in training camp is that he has an amazing ability to put adversity behind him,” Johnson said. “When something goes wrong, he quickly pivots to what comes next. I had great faith in him even after that pick-6.
“I thought, ‘OK, he’s been punched in the face. Let’s see how he responds.’ And I did not lose heart entirely.”
Darnold delivered, going 16 of 21 for 198 yards and two touchdowns while helping the Jets to a stunning 48-17 season-opening victory.
Titans QB Mariota expected to play
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota practiced fully after being knocked out of Tennessee’s season opener when he hurt the elbow on his right throwing arm.
Barring any setbacks, Titans coach Mike Vrabel expects his quarterback to play Sunday. That’s when the Titans (0-1) host rival Houston (0-1) in an early AFC South showdown.
“He’s feeling good,” Vrabel said. “He was able to practice. He had some rest there Monday and Tuesday, and so he was able to get through and do everything and really looked OK.”
Around the league
• Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette missed practice because of a strained right hamstring. Fournette tweaked his hamstring in last week’s season-opening win at the New York Giants. Coach Doug Marrone says the plan is for Fournette to rest a few days before testing his injured hamstring Friday. The Jaguars host New England on Sunday.
• Nick Foles will start at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Tampa Buccaneers on Sunday. Coach Doug Pederson said Carson Wentz (knee) still hasn’t been medically cleared to play. Wentz had surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL last Dec. 13.
• Houston placed cornerback Kevin Johnson (concussion) and right tackle Seantrel Henderson (ankle) on injured reserve. Houston signed free-agent cornerback Shareece Wright.