Packers’ Rodgers could be back Dec. 17
GREEN BAY, WIS. The return of Aaron Rodgers to the Grey Bay Packers may be sooner than what was first expected.
The two-time MVP quarterback, who was placed on injured reserve after breaking his right collarbone Oct. 15 against Minnesota, is on track to practise Saturday, 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 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 weeks. He’s been going through the fundamental part of it.”
Among those players who saw Rodgers’ workouts was outside linebacker Clay Matthews, who rehabbed with Rodgers last week while nursing a groin injury.
“The way he’s coming along, some of the balls he’s throwing, accuracy-wise, everything a quarterback has to do is pretty remarkable,” Matthews said.
Even if Rodgers returns lineup, the Packers face a challenging final three games with contests against the Panthers (8-3), Vikings (9-2) and Lions (6-5). Green Bay will be without cornerback Kevin King (shoulder) and running back Ty Montgomery (ribs).