QB Aaron Rodgers "Making Really Good Progress" in Recovery
Wednesday was the one-month anniversary of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers breaking his right collarbone. He initially suffered the injury in the Oct. 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings, opting for surgery four days later in hopes of an expedited recovery process.
On that anniversary, Rodgers practiced with strength and conditioning coaches in the view of reporters for the first time. He did light work; jogging, cardio, he even simulated snaps from a trainer.
From what coach Mike McCarthy saw, he and the training staff are pleased with where Rodgers is in his recovery.
"He's making really good progress," McCarthy said during his presser on Thursday. "I know the training staff and the strength and conditioning staff are really pleased with where he is. He's moving right along."
Rodgers side-arm threw towels as opposed to footballs in practice. He's still several weeks away from the date he is eligible to begin practicing with the team again (Nov. 30), but the team is encouraged nonetheless.
"It was awesome. Tough dude," center Corey Linsley said following that practice. "He's doing his best to get back as soon as he can. It's not like that's the first time he's come out of the darkness or anything, he's been around. But, it's awesome to have him out there."
Linsley has gotten used to snapping for quarterback Brett Hundley these last three weeks in which he's helped lead the Packers to a 1-2 record in that span. They're coming off of their first win without Rodgers -- a 23-16 thriller in Chicago, making Hundley the first Packers quarterback not named Rodgers or Brett Favre to beat the Bears since 1989.
Rodgers is expected to potentially return -- if the team is in contention -- for the Dec. 17 game against the Carolina Panthers. However, the Packers' record, overall team health and the state of the collarbone will play a factor in that. Rodgers said earlier this month that if it makes sense, he'll be out there. If not, it's not even something that'll be discussed.
The Packers placed Rodgers on injured reserve a day after his surgery on Oct. 20, and they're only eligible to activate two players from the reserve per season. They're expected to use the first designation on offensive tackle Jason Spriggs, swapping him to the roster in place of starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who will finish his season on the reserve instead.
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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (18)
SpudRapids
November 16, 2017 at 11:52 am
Man it would be awesome if we stay in contention for the playoffs and Rodgers comes back. 2013 was a blast when he came back to beat the bears and seal the division with the throw to Cobb
RCPackerFan
November 16, 2017 at 11:55 am
I'm not getting any hopes up. BUT, if Rodgers is ready to go in the last few games at the end of the year, I hope we are in position to bring him back. Meaning I hope we are in playoff contention and ready for Rodgers to take over for a playoff run.
I can't think of a be a bigger boost to a team then getting Rodgers back. That might give the team a ton of energy heading into the playoffs. A perfect time to get that energy boost!
Again, not getting my hopes up, but hoping...
TKWorldWide
November 16, 2017 at 12:19 pm
But it doesn't sound like you're getting your hopes DOWN, either.
RCPackerFan
November 16, 2017 at 12:51 pm
never!
Razer
November 16, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Like RCPackerFan, I am not getting my hopes up. The real surprise in this article...
...Wednesday was the one-month anniversary of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers breaking his right collarbone...
Where does the time go?
TKWorldWide
November 16, 2017 at 12:19 pm
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' into the future.
Razer
November 16, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Steve Miller - the Joker album?
TKWorldWide
November 16, 2017 at 07:04 pm
Nailed it.
Handsback
November 16, 2017 at 02:35 pm
I hope that Hundley gets the Pack to the playoffs and in a miracle finish wins the NFC title. Then Rodgers comes in and wins the SB! Yeah....that's what I want to happen.
Slim11
November 16, 2017 at 02:49 pm
You just described a big portion of the Dolphins' perfect season. Starting QB Bob Griese was injured (broken ankle) and finished the season riding the bench. His backup (unlike Hundley) was longtime veteran Earl Morrall.
Morrall finished the regular season and looked to be the QB in the playoffs. Griese started, and won, the Super Bowl against the Washington Redskins. I don't remember if Morrall started any of the other playoff games.
Tundraboy
November 16, 2017 at 03:01 pm
That's just crazy talk. But nice crazy talk.
Tundraboy
November 16, 2017 at 03:02 pm
Take your time ARod. Make sure your feeling right.
Curt
November 16, 2017 at 03:04 pm
Griese came back and played as a sub in the last regular season game and the AFC championship game before starting and winning the Super Bowl.
Since'61
November 16, 2017 at 04:39 pm
Ravens, Steelers, Bucs and Browns are the 4 games before Rodgers can hopefully return. 3 winnable games and one difficult game. Ravens and Bucs at home with Steelers and Browns on the road. Realistically we can be 8-5 when Rodgers returns and we go on the road to Carolina.
We can beat the Ravens, at least the Ravens that have played inconsistently prior to their bye week. I don't think that we can stop the Steelers and Antonio Brown. That will be like trying to stop Julio Jones for our defense. Bucs and Browns should be solid wins for the Packers. If we can't beat the Bucs at home and the Browns anywhere we don't deserve to be a playoff team.
In spite of everything we still have our season in front of us. If Rodgers is ready to return we could realistically go 10-6 or even 11-5. But we need to take the Ravens first.
One play, one game at a time. Thanks, Since '61
Three and Out
November 16, 2017 at 05:48 pm
"He's still several weeks away from the date he is eligible to begin practicing with the team again (Nov. 30)"
Since when is two weeks also known as "several weeks"?
J0hn Denver's Gavel
November 16, 2017 at 09:17 pm
:an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many
Bure9620
November 16, 2017 at 10:14 pm
I am still worried about the defense as Trubisky and company were able to move the ball on us quite well and Chicago's offense is not exactly dynamic.
Skeptical of Rodgers return. I think it was a displaced fracture, very different than the previous injury and Dr. McKenzie is going to be extremely conservative with this. A displaced fracture on the throwing shoulder requiring surgery. I don't see him back until the playoffs if we make it. They're not going to risk anything! Hes not playing until the bone is completely healed. I just think week 15 is quite optimistic.
rdent
November 17, 2017 at 12:11 pm
I don't think GB will rush AR. I still do not beleive that defense is good enough to contribute to winning a Championship.