Packers’ Rodgers suffers broken collarbone in loss

Aaron Rodgers has engineered many a last-minute comeback for the Green Bay Packers. He has a dozen victories over the rival Minnesota Vikings in 10 years as the starter.

This time? No chance. Rodgers was long gone, and so was Green Bay’s division lead.

Harrison Smith led the Minnesota defense’s thorough dismantling of the Packers, who lost the former Cal quarterback to a broken collarbone and left with a 23-10 defeat to the Vikings on Sunday that transformed the trajectory of the NFC North race.

Smith had 1½ sacks on safety blitzes, a diving interception and two pass breakups, helping the Vikings (4-2) limit the injurydepleted Packers to a season-low 227 yards.

Anthony Barr, who later left with a concussion, delivered the game-changing hit on Green Bay’s second drive when he took Rodgers hard to the turf as the twotime NFL MVP followed through on a pass.

Rodgers fell on his throwing shoulder, and the Packers (4-2) announced he could miss the remainder of the season.

With three starting DBs already out with injuries (Morgan Burnett, Davon House and Kevin King), backup cornerback Quinten Rollins (ankle) was also lost during the game.

For the first time this season, the starting offensive line was intact. That lasted about half of the game. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga (concussion) was knocked out of action, and left tackle David Bakhtiari’s hamstring injury flared up. He missed the past four games.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said, “That was a hard day. All the players that we lost to injury, it was difficult.

“We all understand the magnitude of what Aaron means to our football team.”

Now the Packers must move forward with Brett Hundley, who has 44 attempts in three NFL seasons.

“We’ve been put through a lot of tests in the past,” wide receiver Davante Adams said. “So just bounce back, figure it out and rally. We’ve got a lot of faith in Brett.”

Hundley was picked off three times and sacked four times. He finished 18 for 33 for 157 yards.