Rodgers: I’m playing with broken thumb
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) that he’s been playing with a broken right thumb for the past six weeks.
Rodgers hurt his thumb October 9 during a foiled Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the Packers’ 27-22 loss to the New York Giants in London. Although the Packers have listed Rodgers with a thumb injury ever since, the four-time MVP hadn’t said publicly that it was broken.
“I just know on the flight home I was in some pain,” Rodgers said. “(I) actually didn’t even want to get X-rayed, because I was still going to play, it didn’t matter what the X-ray showed. But they talked me into it.”
Rodgers says his thumb now feels the best it has since the Giants game.
Because the Packers (4-7) played a Thursday night game last week — losing 27-17 at home to Tennessee — they had extra time to prepare for Sunday night’s game at Philadelphia (9-1).
“It’s definitely a challenge, but the days off helped,” Rodgers said. “I’m feeling better this week.”
Rodgers hasn’t missed any games, but the injury has limited his practice time and he hasn’t approached the level he reached while earning MVP honors each of the last two seasons. That loss to the Giants started a 1-6 tailspin that has put the three-time defending NFC North champions’ playoff hopes in jeopardy.